Energy Saving Light Bulbs

The best energy saving light bulbs are light emitting diodes (LEDs) or compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) that save 75% off lighting costs. They will pay for themselves in energy saving in roughly six months.

CFLs: How they work is different to that of a incandescent bulb that uses a wire filament that heats up till it glows using electricity. A CFL bulb is a tube curled around that looks like a modern art ice cream swirl. There is no filament, instead in the tube is a mixture of argon and mercury vapor that emit an invisible ultraviolet light with electricity. The inside of the tube is coated with phosphor (a fluorescent coating) that gets excited by the ultraviolet light and glows visible light.

The dark side to CFLs is the hazardous mercury and phosphor powder. If the bulb is dropped on the floor and breaks - do not touch it with your bare hands. If you do, and touch your eyes or mouth, call poison control immediately. Sweep everything into a plastic bag and save it for your community's hazardous waste collection. If you don't it will end up in landfills and that mercury will seep into the water system.

LEDs do not contain any mercury or emit ultraviolet light that could be harmful to your eyes over time. They do not have a filament either. Light is produced by electrons running through a semiconductor diode, and because they are manufactured with an epoxy resin they are practically indestructible. One LED lasts as long as 30 incandescent bulbs! They are everywhere from your cell phone to your ipod. The Geek casts his vote with LEDs, they are better for the environment and less hazardous to your health.

Whatever bulbs your choose remember to turn them off whenever you leave the room. Timers or motion detecters for outside your home save energy too from the lights being on all night. } catch(err) {}

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