A light for sore eyes

Q: My children never turn off lights. I heard that I will save $50 for each bulb that I replace with a compact fluorescent bulb. How is the light quality from the compacts? -T. F.

A: New compact fluorescent light bulbs are now designed to fit nearly every size and style of lamp or fixture. If you tried one several years ago, you'll be surprised at the excellent light quality of some of the new ones. Although all brands look similar, there are major differences among them.

In general, an 18-watt compact fluorescent bulb produces as much light as a standard 75-watt bulb. Over its 10,000-hour life, each one saves up to $50 in electricity as compared to a standard bulb. Multiply this by the number of lamps and fixtures in your house and the total savings is tremendous.

These bulbs are also environmentally friendly. Using electricity produced from a coal-fired power plant, each 18-watt compact fluorescent bulb saves 500 pounds of coal, produces 1,300 pounds less carbon dioxide (global warming gas) and 20 pounds less sulfur dioxide (acid rain) over its life.

Although compact fluorescent bulbs cost more to buy initially than standard incandescent bulbs, they last 13 times longer. If you use a lamp for four hours every night, a compact fluorescent bulb lasts six years. This is ideal for hard-to-reach fixtures, like above stairs.

Not all compact fluorescent bulbs produce the same quality of light. How true colors look under a light is referred to as color rendition index (CRI). Some bulbs have CRTs as low as 60. Most are in the 82 range and some are above 85. A CRI of 100 is perfect color rendition.

Compact fluorescent bulbs are available in two designs. Integral units include the ballast, base and bulb in one piece. Modular units have replaceable bulbs. Since ballasts last 50,000 hours (20 years of typical use), only having to replace the light element saves another $5 to $10.

When buying a bulb, consider the type of ballast used. The new ones with electronic ballasts start instantly with no buzz. Less expensive ones with magnetic ballasts take longer to reach full brightness and flicker initially.

There are many shapes and styles of compact fluorescents, such as globe, twin or triple tubes, spiral, U-shaped, indoor and outdoor floods, and reflector bulbs for recessed lighting. Some are tinted various colors for contemporary lighting.

For small table and floor lamps, use a three-piece adapter kit. A small ballast plugs into the wall and the lamp cord plugs into the ballast. The very small fluorescent bulb screws into the standard lamp socket.

Write for Update Bulletin No. 957 showing a buyer's guide of 10 manufacturers of compact fluorescent bulbs and kits listing wattages, light quality CRI, style/ shapes, ballast types and an application/bulb selector guide. Please include $2.00 (with checks payable to "Jim Dulley") and a business-size SASE, and send to Jim Dulley, Illinois Country Living, P.O. Box 3787, Springfield, IL 62708.

James Dulley is a mechanical engineer who writes on a wide variety of energy and utility topics. His column appears in a large number of daily newspapers.

Copyright 1995 James Dulley

14 ILLINOIS COUNTRY LIVING • MARCH 1996