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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Neolite CFLs

What are Neolites?
Simply put, Neolites are an improvement on an improvement. What I mean is — compact florescent lighting (CFL) is an improvement over traditional incandescent lighting, which has been in homes for years.

We see incandescent lighting in light bulbs and lamps everyday. They are in our homes and in our workplace. Neolites are an improvement on CFL technology, bringing us an even safer, longer lasting alternative to standard CFLs.

The problem with incandescent lighting is that it produces a harsh unnatural light that can contribute to glare and eyestrain. Not to mention far more costly energy consumption and short life cycles for the traditional light bulbs which has resulted in after-life disposal issues.

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Broken Light Bulb

The incandescent light bulb was invented in about 1802. Practical incandescent light bulbs were not invented until 1878 when tungsten was used for the filament. In many respects the technology hasn’t changed much after the initial refinements. First let me explain how an incandescent light bulb works.

How Incandescent Light Bulbs Work

Electricity goes through a thin strand of material called a filament. The material gives off light after it is heated in a process called incandescence. The filament is tightly would like a spring so that there is more length to give off light. Being enclosed inside a glass shell protects the filament. The excessive heat produced by the electricity would cause the filament to burn up if it were exposed to the oxygen in the air. Incandescent light bulbs are usually filled with an inert gas such as nitrogen to prevent the filament being exposed to oxygen. To better project the light outward a pear shaped bulb is usually used.

The Drawbacks

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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.