Myths and Facts About Fluorescent Lights?

Answer 1

Fluorescent lights are an excellent choice for home, office, and school environments because they offer many benefits. Still, some myths persist that cause consumers to question the use of fluorescent bulbs. Here are the facts about this type of lighting.

Myth: Fluorescent lights flicker, causing eye strain and even headaches. Fact: It used to be true that fluorescent lights had an annoying flicker, accompanied by a slight buzzing noise. Improved technology has eliminated these drawbacks. New fluorescent bulbs use an electronic ballast that produces a steady, silent light.

Myth: Fluorescents are more energy-efficient than incandescent bulbs, but less efficient than halogen lighting. Fact: Compact fluorescent lights are almost three times more efficient than halogen bulbs (and more than ten times as efficient as incandescent bulbs). Moreover, fluorescent lighting doesn't consume any power when it is switched off. Halogen bulbs, in contrast, utilize Transformers that can continue to consume power even when the light is turned off.

Myth: Fluorescents are bad for the environment because they contain Mercury. Fact: Fluorescent bulbs do contain a small bit of mercury, which means that they must be discarded in a responsible manner. However, not using fluorescent lights will result in even more mercury being released into the environment. This is because other forms of lighting consume more electricity, which is generated at this time mostly through the burning of fossil fuels. This produces power plant emissions containing mercury. The best way to reduce mercury in the environment is to burn fewer fossil fuels by using fluorescent lighting wherever possible.

Myth: Fluorescent light bulbs won't fit inside certain light fixtures, such as the ceiling globes used in many factory-built homes. Fact: Again, this used to be the case, but the advent of the compact fluorescent light bulb changed everything. Today's fluorescent bulbs are smaller than a standard incandescent bulb and will fit in any lighting fixture designed for incandescent bulbs.

Myth: You can't use fluorescent bulbs with dimmer switches. Fact: You can use dimmer switches that have set levels such as bright, brighter, and brightest -- as long as they are wired for fluorescent bulbs. However, continuous dimmer switches are still not used with fluorescents.