Quality of CFL's:-
taken from www.environment.gov.au
Contents:-
1. Are CFL's available that produce a similar colour light to traditional light bulbs?
2. How is light output measured?
3. Is it more efficient to leave CFL's on if you briefly leave a room rather than switching them off?
4. Can CFL's interfere with other electronic devices?
5. How do I know when a CFL has reached it's end of life?
6. Is it normal in some instances for CFL's to smell, discolour or emit smoke at end of life?
7. Where can I find the Standards for the lighting phase out?
8. Who determines what information appears on product packaging?
Are CFL's available that produce a similar colour light to traditional light bulbs?:
Compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) cover a range of desired colours including a close approximate of the 'warm' light of most incandescent bulbs, around 2700 degrees Kelvin. The Kelvin temperature of a lamp refers to the colour of the light it emits, and is a comparison to natural outdoor light (for example, sunlight at noon on a clear day is about 6000 degrees Kelvin). Compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) are available in five main colours:
- 'warm white' (similar to the light from incandescent light bulbs) of about 2700 to 3000 degrees Kelvin
- 'white' of about 3500 degrees Kelvin
- 'cold white' of about 4000 degrees Kelvin
- 'neutral white' of about 5000 degrees Kelvin
- 'daylight' of about 6000 degrees Kelvin.
How is light output measured?:
Traditional incandescent light bulbs are commonly selected upon the wattage (W) indicated on the packaging of the lighting product. An example of this is the purchase of a traditional 60W incandescent bulb, suitable for use in bedrooms and or other small living spaces. The 'wattage' of a lighting product refers to the measure of energy input, or energy required for the light to come on - this however, is not a true measure of light. The more accurate measure of light is lumens (lm). Lumens is a measure of light output, the actual intensity of the light that is produced.
When selecting a lighting product for your home or office, look for the measure of light output, the amount of lumens the bulb produces. This will assist you in purchasing the light output that best suits the space.
Is it more efficient to leave CFL's on if you briefly leave a room rather than turn them off?:
There is a common misconception that more energy is used to switch a fluorescent light on and off than to leave it on when you leave a room.
There is an 'inrush' current when fluorescent lights are turned on that is higher than the current drawn during normal operation. As this additional current is only drawn for a fraction of a second, it is always more energy efficient to turn the light off when not needed.
Frequent switching on and off will shorten the life of most CFLs. However, as an adjunct to the incandescent phase-out initiative, the Australian Government will introduce MEPS for CFLs that will include a basic standard for switching. This standard requires over 1000 switching cycles per 6000 hours of lamp life.
Further, for some special applications where frequent switching is critical, there are 'cold cathode' CFLs that feature lifetimes of 15,000 hours with 500,000 switching cycles. However, this technology is more expensive and mostly intended for commercial use.
Can CFL's interfere with other electronic devices?:
Yes, but it's rare. Compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) like all other electronic devices generate electromagnetic fields and also emit light in the infrared range, which can occasionally affect other electronic devices. If this occurs it can be fixed by moving the device away from the bulb or putting something between the device and the bulb, such as a lampshade.
How do I know when a CFL has reached end of life?:
Unlike traditional incandescent light bulbs CFLs tend not to stop working completely, but the light output reduces over time. When the light output fades the lamp should be replaced.
Is it normal in some instances for CFL's to smell, discolour or emit smoke at end of life?:
CFLs, like other electronic appliances may fail in a number of different ways at the end of their life. In a very small number of cases, for example, the electronic components in the base of the CFL may fail in a manner that releases smoke or discolours or deforms the plastic casing of the CFL. While disturbing, these events are not a safety hazard. The plastic casing is required to be designed to contain the failed components and contains special inhibitors to prevent a risk of fire. All CFLs imported into Australia are required to meet Australian Standards that specify safety parameters including the way in which the CFLs may fail when they reach the end of their life.
Where can I find the standards for the lighting phase out?:
The following standards are available for purchase from the SAI Global website:
Who determines what information is provided on product packaging?:
The amount of information that appears on individual lamp packaging varies between both individual products and manufacturers. It is therefore, the manufacturer who determines what technical information is provided on packaging. The Government however, is considering the need for labelling and packaging information in consultation with the lighting industry. |
