Fluorescent Efficiency From The Energy Superstore

With oil prices increasing and signs of climate change becoming ever more noticeable, there is much interest these days in alternative fuel sources. On example of such an alternative fuel is hydrogen.

What Experts Know About Hydrogen Power

Hydrogen Fuel Cell

You may think of hydrogen as a fuel source, like gasoline, but it is actually more of an energy storage solution, like a battery. This is because there are not reserves of existing hydrogen that can be mined from the earth. Hydrogen must therefore be produced using another energy source before it can be used. This may make hydrogen sound less useful as a fuel, but energy storage is actually a very important problem.

An Energy Storage Solution

Many clean alternatives for generating power at power stations such as solar and wind are being developed, but without storage solutions this energy cannot be used in places like your car where it must be portable. While batteries can be used for storage, they can be expensive and harmful to the environment. It may be possible to develop a cleaner and less expensive solution using hydrogen.

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Natural Gas

Millions of years ago, the remains of plants and animals decayed and built up in thick layers. This decayed matter from plants and animals is called organic material — it was once alive. Over time, the mud and soil changed to rock, covered the organic material and trapped it beneath the rock.

Pressure and heat changed some of this organic material into coal, some into oil (petroleum), and some into natural gas — tiny bubbles of odorless gas. The main ingredient in natural gas is methane, a gas (or compound) composed of one carbon atom and four hydrogen atoms.

In some places, gas escapes from small gaps in the rocks into the air; then, if there is enough activation energy from lightning or a fire, it burns. When people first saw the flames, they experimented with them and learned they could use them for heat and light.

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Save Energy with Fluorescent Lighting

Saving energy helps the environment because most energy sources, such as coal and natural gas are non-renewable. This means that once used, they are gone forever. Additionally, most forms of energy cause pollution that can be a source of greenhouse gases leading to climate change.

How Fluorescent Light Bulbs Work

Fluorescent lighting is manufactured by enclosing gas within glass tubes. Electricity excites the gas, producing light when the gas fluoresces. The fluorescent reaction produces ultraviolet light that is invisible to the human eye. Visible light is created when the UV light subsequently reacts with mercury and phosphorescent chemicals that have also been enclosed in the tube.

Fluorescent light bulbs are available to fit most existing fixtures and offer one of the most energy efficient electric lighting solutions available today.

Here are 5 examples of how fluorescents help save energy and the environment:

1. A greater proportion of the electricity consumed is directly used to produce light, resulting in conservation of energy sources and reduced pollution.
2. Fluorescent lights run cooler than incandescent and so they reduce the costs associated with running air conditioning.
3. The longer life of fluorescents will reduce the number of used bulbs in landfills, particularly since it has been shown that most people will properly recycle fluorescent bulbs when given the opportunity.
4. The EPA estimates that most of the 104 metric tons of mercury introduced into the atmosphere each year by humans is released by coal fired electric plants. Fluorescent light bulbs emit no mercury unless broken or improperly disposed of. Additionally, manufacturers are developing bulbs that operate with much less mercury than older bulbs.
5. Assuming that the lower costs of operating fluorescents will not increase the perceived need for light, consumers should use less electricity if they convert to fluorescent lighting when appropriate.

Fluorescent Light Bulb Disposal

Fluorescent lighting offers consumers much needed savings in cost of energy, and it also offers a much needed decrease in energy waste for the environment. Because of the wonderful benefits of compact fluorescent light bulbs, their usage is growing rapidly in American household and in the US workplace.

While there is not much need to worry about fluorescent light bulbs, as will all technological innovations, we must at some point think about physical waste. The two cases where we need to consider disposal are:

1. Dead fluorescent bulbs.
2. Broken fluorescent bulbs.

Fluorescent bulbs that no longer work can be recycled. The Energy Superstore has a fluorescent light bulb recycling program for recycling compact fluorescent light bulbs, for recycling linear fluorescent light bulbs, and for recycling lamp ballasts. Order pre-paid pick up today.

Fluorescent bulbs can break just like any other bulb, although not nearly as easily as incandescent glass light bulbs. Indeed, fluorescent bulbs are safer today than ever before, but they are still made with a couple of potentially harmful chemicals such as mercury and some phosphorescent chemicals.

Although there is not much need for fear or worry when dealing with fluorescent lighting, accidents do happen. Therefore it is important to know how to safely deal with a broken fluorescent bulb.

Please follow this list of 5 steps to take when disposing of a broken fluorescent light bulb:

1. Turn off forced air, heating, and air conditioning units, and open doors and window to introduce fresh air into the room.
2. Humans and pets should leave the area for fifteen minutes.
3. Do not touch bulb fragments or use a vacuum or broom to clean up on hard surfaces. Use pieces of cardboard to scoop up large pieces and packing tape (or other sticky material) to pick up small particles. Enclose debris and materials used for cleanup in a glass jar with metal lid or seal in a plastic bag.
4. Clean hard surfaces with a disposable towel and if a vacuum is required for a fabric area, be sure to change the bag when finished. Towels and vacuum bags should also be sealed before disposal.
5. Clothing or bedding that has come in direct contact with the broken bulb should be disposed of in a sealed package.

These steps should prove to keep you safe in the uncommon event that a fluorescent light bulb should rupture. Please do not let this information deter you from making the switch to fluorescent lighting. The benefits of fluorescent lighting far outweigh this slight inconvenience of disposing of a broken fluorescent bulb.