Frequently Asked Questions

Why are compact fluorescent bulbs better than incandescent ones?

Only a tiny portion of the energy used by incandescent bulbs actually goes toward creating light. The rest is wasted as heat. That's why you can't touch them when they're on. Compact fluorescent bulbs waste much less heat energy, allowing them to create the same amount of light with only one quarter the energy use.

How long do compact fluorescent bulbs last?

They could last up to 10,000 hours. At eight hours per night, a compact fluorescent could last on your front porch for more than three years!

Can compact fluorescents be used outside?

Yes, as long as the bulb is covered on top to avoid being directly exposed to the elements. They also make compact fluorescents specifically for outdoor exposure, though they are more expensive. But as more people use this technology, the prices will come down.

Compact fluorescents have a minimum startup temperature: some bulbs will light at temperatures as low as -20 degrees farenheit, others only go down to 0 degrees farenheit. So if you live someplace that gets very cold, read the packaging. Also, compact fluorescents emit less light as the temperature decreases, so don't be surprised if your bulb appears a little dimmer when it's freezing outside.

I want to save even more energy! Where else can I use compact fluorescent bulbs?

They can be used in most fixtures in your house, but you need to buy special compact fluorescents if you want to use them with dimmer switches or timers. Keep in mind that if you frequently turn a compact fluorescent bulb on and off, it will shorten the life of the bulb, so you will have the best results in lights that are kept on for long stretches at a time (like your front porch!). Be careful about using compact fluorescents in recessed ceiling fixtures, as they can overheat and burn out prematurely. For more technical information, check out this Popular Mechanics article that compares different lightbulbs.

Isn't fluorescent light ugly and irritating?

Not anymore. Compact fluorescent bulbs, like all technology, have improved tremendously in the past few years. The newer ones produce light very similar to the old, energy-hogging incandescent bulbs, and turn on with minimal flicker.

I heard that compact fluorescent bulbs contain mercury. Isn't mercury pollution a problem?

Yes, compact fluorescent bulbs contain a small amount of mercury... about 1/200 the amount in a household thermometer. However, if you consider the energy savings over the life of the bulb, the compact fluorescent will actually reduce the mercury released into our atmosphere by about 50%, since burning coal for energy releases mercury.

However, because there is some mercury in compact fluorescent bulbs, you should avoid handling a broken bulb with your bare hands. If one does break, use a damp rag to clean up the peices and throw away both the rag and bulb pieces.

To reduce the impact of the mercury on our environment, please make sure not to throw your burned-out compact fluorescents in the trash! Drop the bulbs off at a hazardous waste collection center or check your local municipality for hazardous waste pickup. Click here for more information on the best way to dispose of mercury-containing bulbs.

Can getting people to switch which bulbs they use really make a difference in the long run?

Yes! Read this FastCompany magazine article which states that "if every one of 110 million American households bought just one [compact fluorescent bulb], took it home, and screwed it in the place of an ordinary 60-watt bulb, the energy saved would be enough to power a city of 1.5 million people."

It doesn't seem like there is an energy problem in this country. Isn't there enough energy to last us a long time?

Everything you touch requires energy to produce and ship, from your food and clothing, to your house and car.

Some energy analysts estimate that there is enough liquid oil to last 50 more years, and enough coal to last 200 years. However, as these precious resources run low, it becomes more difficult to get them, and their price becomes higher. Look at the recent increases in the price of gasoline... they are just the beginning. As our precious energy sources dwindle, the likelihood of global conflicts over energy increases.

Using more energy than we need also pollutes our world, harming humans, animals, and the land and oceans which produce the food we need. Using fossil fuels like coal and oil also generates greenhouse gasses, which have been linked to the global climate change that scientists say could potentially threaten all life on earth in the next hundred years.

Both conservatives and liberals are recognizing the importance of this issue. Read a Christian Science Monitor article by pastor Joel C. Hunter which calls for "Creation Care." And here is Al Gore's website with an explanation of global climate change and what you can do about it.