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Energy Saving Bulbs - saving you money & saving our environment
Do they flicker when you turn them on?
Yes, they do, but unlike early energy saver lamps a few years ago, the latest designs generally include electronic rapid start circuitry to make the lamp light in less than 1 second with virtually no flickering.
Don't they give a rather harsh light?
Some older designs had quite a high "colour temperature" which may be perceived as "colder" but many energy saving lamps now use a "warm white" coating to make the light very similar to a normal incandescent bulb.
Do they take time to "warm up"?
The latest compact fluorescent lamps "warm up" very much faster than older designs, typically reaching 95% of their full light output in under a minute.
They are always too long and stick out above my lampshade!
Again, with the latest designs, this need not happen. Many compact fluorescents are now so small that they are virtually the same size, or even smaller, than ordinary bulbs. If the bulb is visible, you can choose from one of the designs that uses a decorative outer bulb to cover the fluorescent tubes.
Do compact fluorescents get hot?
Compact fluorescents give out far less heat than normal incandescent bulbs, making them safer for use in unattended security or night light applications. This also makes them ideal for use with lampshades made of delicate materials that can be damaged by heat. All lamps do however give off some heat and should not be used in a totally enclosed light fitting unless there is some way for the heat to escape.
Are "Energy Saver" and "Long Life" bulbs the same thing?
Yes and no! Compact fluorescent lamps do generally have much longer life than ordinary incandescent bulbs but there are also many other types of "long life" bulb, most of which do not also save energy. Generally a normal incandescent bulb will have a rated life of around 1000hrs whereas compact fluorescent energy saving bulbs have a rated life of between 3,000 and 15,000 hours. |
