Should You Use LED Fluorescent Lights

Will you be using LED fluorescent lights? Compact Fluorescent Lights (CFLs) along with more traditional fluorescent lamps are now being aggressively marketed as environmentally friendly due to their reduced electricity consumption. 

Indeed, widespread replacement of incandescent bulbs with CFLs will greatly reduce electricity demand; however, there are safety issues that ultimately contribute to making LED tube lights the superior choice. 

Understanding fluorescent lighting risks can help ensure that fluorescent light bulbs are used and disposed of safely while explaining why LED fluorescent light is the safest and most eco-friendly lighting choice in the long run.

Mercury

The most commonly cited fluorescent lighting hazard is mercury. Fluorescent and CFL bulbs contain a small amount of mercury and are identified with the elemental symbol Hg. 

When these bulbs are cold, some of the mercury in the lamp is in liquid form, but while the lamp is operating or when the lamp is hot, most of the mercury is in a gaseous or vapor form.

Disposed of improperly, mercury can contaminate buildings, landfills, lakes, animals, fish, birds, humans, crops and rivers. In the US, the EPA has ordered waste handlers to treat fluorescent lamps as hazardous waste. 

With such a classification, fluorescent lamps are not to be sent to landfills, but instead are to be sent to recycling centers that break the lamps under special conditions and safely recover the mercury. 

Up to 95 percent of the mercury contained in CFLs can be recovered if the bulbs are recycled properly.

The Dimmers

To use a CFL on a dimmer switch, you must buy a bulb that's specifically made to work with dimmers (check the package). GE makes a dimming compact fluorescent light bulb (called the Energy Smart Dimming Spirals) that is specially designed for use with dimming switches. 

I don't recommend using regular compact fluorescent bulbs with dimming switches, since this can shorten bulb life. Using a regular compact fluorescent bulb with a dimmer will also nullify the bulb's warranty.

Ultraviolet Light

A long-term hazard from fluorescent lighting is the shorter-wave ultraviolet (UV) light that escapes the lamp. No matter how well crafted, some short-wave ultraviolet light escapes from every fluorescent lamp made. 

Short-wave UV light is one of the damaging components of the suns rays that reach the surface of the Earth, which can directly damage organic tissue and trigger cancers. Short-wave UV light can also age or damage paper, fabrics and other materials.

Flicker Effect

Flicker and glare from fluorescent lights can also cause headaches and have been found to impact learning and ability to concentrate. Although humans cannot see fluorescent lights flicker, the sensory system in some individuals can somehow detect the flicker. 

Ever since fluorescent lighting was introduced in workplaces, there have been complaints about headaches, eye strain and general eye discomfort. 

These complaints have been associated with the light flicker from fluorescent lights. When compared to regular fluorescent lights with magnetic ballasts, the use of high frequency electronic ballasts fluorescent lights resulted in more than a 50% drop in complaints of eye strain and headaches.

As you can see, LED tube lights seem to be the more eco-friendly lighting and safer choice preferred by many people.



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How Does A LED Fluorescent Light Compare With A Compact Fluorescent Light?

For many years the CFL (Compact Fluorescent Lamp) was the alternative choice for anyone who wanted to reduce the energy consumption of their household lighting. The advent of super energy efficient LED fluorescent light has complicated this matter as consumers are forced to weigh up the pros and cons of both of these bulbs. But which in fact is better?

1) A typical CFL will use between 9 and 11 watts in power. This is a good improvement over traditional incandescent bulbs, but not as good as an LED. LED light bulb uses 4.5 watts in power, which is not only a vast improvement over the old incandescent, but is also better than the CFL.

2) Most CFLs have a quoted life span of about 5,000 hours, but you need to be wary. Most retailers will exaggerate this figure and most CFLs will use a large percentage of their luminosity before the end of their life span. On the other hand a LED light tube has a rated life expectancy of 30,000 hours, about 6 times longer, and they will remain consistently bright for their entire life span.

3) One of the biggest issues with CFLs is their safe disposal. CFLs can not be included in normal household waste or recycling because they contain a small amount of a harmful substance called mercury, which is important in their operation. If a CFL breaks this substance is released and can cause serious environment damage. In order to recycle them safely they need to be taken to designated recycling centres for hazardous waste.

The LED fluorescent tube light contains no harmful substances at all. They also don't heat up. This makes them very safe to handle and recycle. Even if they break, which is unlikely as they are quite durable, they can be swept up and thrown away. Most retailers also provide their own recycling service under the Waste Electronic and Electrical Equipment (WEEE) Directive. Contact them to find out.

4) A notorious issue with the CFL is the time it takes to reach full luminosity. Some models may take a couple of minutes to reach full brightness, which can be a real headache. Some new models have overcome the issue, but the light they produce is still quite unnatural and achieves poor colour rendering. The LED fluorescent light up instantaneously. They also produce a clear, natural looking light.

5) CFLs are available in a limited range of fittings, shapes and sizes. In addition to this, research and development into CFL technology is much slower than LEDs. LED fluorescent tubes are available in a a few range of styles.

6) Finally, the CFLs are still cheaper than typical LED fluorescent lights, but the price of the latter is gradually coming down, and it won't be long until it reaches a level that is viable for both domestic and commercial consumers.


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