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The Facts About Compact Fluorescent Bulbs
Why make the switch?
By replacing 8 standard incandescent bulbs with compact fluorescent lamp (CFL)
equivalents, you are using 75% less energy and saving approximately $55.00 on your electric
utility bill each year. Energy Star® qualified bulbs last 10,000 hours meaning you can save
about $255.00 over the life of the bulb. Remember, on average, lighting counts for 25% of your
total household energy costs.
If you'd like to try a free compact fluorescent lightbulb, contact the conservation coordinator.
CFLs are better for the environment
- Reduction in your Carbon Footprint: Replacing a single incandescent bulb with a CFL will keep a half-ton of CO2 out of the atmosphere over the life of the bulb.
- Think savings: If everyone in the U.S. used energy-efficient lighting, we could retire 90 average size power plants; it would save enough energy to light more than 3 million homes for a year; and it is the equivalent to removing more than 800,000 cars annually from the roads.
- CFLs reduce the amount of mercury released into the environment: Burning coal releases mercury into the atmosphere -- about 10 milligrams over the life of an average incandescent bulb. Because of its superior efficiency, a CFL will only be responsible for about 2.5 milligrams. Even if you add the less than 3 milligrams contained in the CFL we are giving you, the CFL is still responsible for putting less mercury into the world than its incandescent equivalent. This is especially true if the mercury in the CFL is kept out of the waste stream when the lamp expires. Research is being done to even further reduce the amount of mercury in CFL bulbs.
Tips for installing and using CFLs
- Buy quality bulbs: Look for the Energy Star® label; these bulbs are tested to have a rated lifetime of 8,000 to 10,000 hours. Look for a warranty; many bulbs have a lifetime warranty and can be sent back to the manufacturer for a replacement or refund if they prematurely fail. The CFL provided by Logan City has a lifetime guarantee – if it fails before an estimated 10,000 hours, we’ll replace it.
- Experiment: Buy a couple brands of bulbs and experiment with the different color varieties to see which you prefer. CFLs range from "warm white" to "daylight," and you may be more satisfied with one or the other depending on the location where your new bulb is to be installed. Mix and match. Move your bulbs around. Start with the lights you use the most and, as a general rule, don’t use CFLs for fixtures that aren’t ever left on for 15 minutes or more at a time.
- Match lumens: Lumen’s, not wattages, must be matched to the incandescent that you wish to replace. Lumens indicate the amount of light being generated, see the following table:
| Incandescent Watts | CFL Watts | Lumens |
| 40 | 8 - 10 | 450 |
| 60 | 13 - 18 | 890 |
| 75 | 18 - 22 | 1210 |
| 100 | 23 - 28 | 1750 |
| 150 | 34 - 42 | 2780 |
- Choose the right kind of CFL for the fixture: You MUST buy specially marked CFLs if you plan to use them on dimmer switches. Outdoor CFLs must be placed in an enclosed fixture for optimum performance. Some companies manufacture specific bulbs for the outdoors which are weatherized and enclosed in a secondary enclosure to improve their cold weather performance. Some, called CFL bug lights, are manufactured with a coating to make the light invisible to insects that are normally attracted to light. The lifetime of your bulb may be slightly shortened if you place them in fully enclosed indoor fixtures or in ceiling fans. Check the packaging; most manufacturers will list appropriate fixtures and locations for the type of bulb you are buying.
- Opt for enough bulb: One of the biggest complaints made by new CFL users is that the light "looks dingy", even if they buy the equivalent. This is because CFLs produce the same amount of lumens (light energy) as their incandescent equivalents but the light radiates differently than light from incandescent bulbs meaning that the light may not hit the same areas as it did before. To solve this problem, use a stronger CFL bulb or purchase fixtures that are designed for CFLs.
Proper disposal of spent or broken CFLs
- CFLs DO contain mercury: An intact CFL will NEVER emit mercury. CFLs can be broken through accident or improper disposal. That makes it important to dispose of spent or damaged CFLs in a responsible manner. The bulb we are giving you contains less than 3 mg of mercury.
- CFL Recycling for Cache County is offered at the Logan City Household Hazardous Waste Facility for FREE for residential customers. Simply place the spent bulb in a sealable bag and BRING it to our facility located at 1450 W 200 N in Logan. They are open Monday through Saturday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- What to do if you break a CFL: Don’t panic. Most bulbs are damaged when they're cold, and the mercury is likely to adhere to the bulb's debris. To be safe, ventilate the area for about 15 minutes. Using rubber or latex gloves carefully gather up the ballast and broken glass with disposable paper towels. Wipe the floor carefully with more paper toweling, then double bag everything in Ziploc bags. Dispose of the debris at the Logan City Household Hazardous Waste Facility. Ventilate the room the next time you vacuum. Remove the vacuum bag and double bag it before disposing of it in the household garbage. For a bagless vacuum, empty the container and wipe it with paper towels, double bag the debris and dispose of it in your household garbage.
