Why are fluorescent lights so much better than incandescent lights?

[Frank Parry]

I have heard that changing lights in you house can save a lot of money.. is this true?

[Bob Minchin dangling via a don]

Have you been on a different planet for a while or is this a Troll Question?

Bob

[Woody]

Boy have you opened a can of worms!

Think I'll just sit back and watch...............

[robgraham]

It's probably true if you only look at the cost of the electricity consumed. Incandescent bulbs work by heating the filament to a high temperature, at which point it glows very brightly and gives out light. Fluorescent bulbs work by exciting the atoms of either a gas contained within a tube or the coating inside it by passing a current through the gas in the tube. When the atoms are excited they give off light. The current required to excite them is very much less than that required to produce the same light output from an incandescent bulb.

However, the cost of the electricity takes no account of the price of the bulb and how long it will last compared to the other type. I believe fluorescent bulbs last much longer than incandescent, but cost several times more. Those who promote fluorescent bulbs reckon they are cheaper overall in the long run. However, I also understand that the cost of production (particularly in green terms) and the cost of disposal (also in green terms) can outweigh this. Politicians and the EU say fluorescent bulbs are better (without necessarily defining 'better'). This leads me to feel that the reverse is true.

Rob Graham

[Java Jive]

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[DIY]

I agree, but to attempt to predict cost savings for 12 years when the price of bulbs and electricity is likely to change considerably seems to be a bit optimistic! If prices were going to remain stable it would be possible to calculate the breakeven point followed by the cost savings.

My advice is to change as many bulbs as possible to fluorescents but to keep the old incandescents because if you have a power cut with reduced voltage the fluorescents won't work but the incandescent will, albeit with a reduced light output.

I wonder when they are going to get around to looking at the really high electricity consuming devices such as the motors in washing machines and tumble driers, and the heating elements in those appliances and others such as immersion heaters, ovens, grills and dishwashers. And what about air conditioning?