Incandescent Vs. Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs

Frank DiMassa always says "you can't change people, but you CAN change their light bulbs!"
In this little video clip T.H. Culhane describes the differences between Incandescent and CFL bulbs.

Category:

Howto & Style

Tags:

• CFL
• Compact
• Fluorescent
• Incadescent
• Light
• Bulbs

[patricknedz]

until you break one and get mercury everywhere

[tculhane]

@patricknedz you are exaggerating the threat of mercury in CFLs, I'm afraid. A CFL bulb contains about 4 mg and the emissions from a coal plant to power it about 2.4 mg of Hg. That equals 6.4 mg. When you use an incandescent light bulb the coal plant releases 10 mg of mercury, so using CFL is a net savings of 3.6 mg, about the equivalent of a bulb. But I can power my CFLs from solar energy because they are efficient, so now I'm down to 4 mg. And If it breaks the Hg doesn't go "everywhere"

[tculhane]

@patricknedz Also, the mercury wouldn't go "everywhere" if you break one as you seem to fear. Some is a vapor and would go out the windows but is still 1/2 to 1/3 of what goes in the atmosphere from coal plants powering incandescents. some residue would stay with the glass and can be disposed of properly. Anyway, this video is over a decade old and we have now moved on to LEDs. CFLs are a good transition technology.

[mariussicone]

i am starting to make supplies for later when normal lightbulbs are no longer available,fuck the CFL and fuck that stupid light colour

[hermancando]

scary shit man th murcury

[BeyondLame]

Mercury is one of the most toxic elements on earth.

And our government is forcing the American people to purchase bulbs with them inside. Wonderful. 

[patricknedz]

@tculhane I like the LED but it was like $16 a bulb, I know that it says the CFL can have the same color as the incandescents it doesnt really look exactly the same and the color is a bit off. and the CFL doesnt really work well in the dimmer switches even the ones that are made for it tend to flicker at lower levels.  not sure about the LED never tried it.

[nathanrs10]

Instead of using a little more electricity we will be polluting the landfills with mercury.

Ban Fluorescent and Incandescent.

LED bulbs use 1 to 5 watts and last forever. They also don't have any toxic material in them.

[TrishaDishaWarEagle]

I enjoy breaking cfl's after they burn out(yep they do quite often , due to cheap chinese balasts)..It's my little way to say F You to the left to deposit a little mercury dust around..I, of course, wear a respirator :)

[konkout2009]

YOU GUYS HAVE NO IDEA HOW WORTHLESS THESE ARE!!!!! WHEN THERE BROKEN THEY GIVE OFF THE VERY TOXIC MERCURY VAPORS. THEY CAN CAUSE HARM TO INFANTS AS WELL AS PREGNANT WOMEN OR ANYTHING LIVING. WHEN THEY RECYCLE THEM IT TAKES A LOTT OF ENERGY TO DO IT AS WELL AS DISPOSING THESE HARMFUL VAPORS THAT WILL AFFECT THE WORLD. DONT BUY THESE THINGS AS GE IS MAKING IT SOUND SO GOOD!!!!!! ITS POISON!!!! IT IS NOT GREEN AT ALL!!!! IT IS SHIT SHIT SHIT!!!!!! DONT BUY

[razornet1]

@electrictroy2010 well, then I have to question your math skills as an engineer (with all respect). My father is also an electrical engineer that works at a power plant and gets electricity from his company at a very cheap rate that the public doesnt get. And although, I am only an engineering manager, it is very simple to equate that for every CFL you buy you will save around 200 US dollars on that bulb (give or take at different prices and utilities).