Frequently Asked Questions and Answers 9.  How much heat (or infrared radiation) is emitted by regular, halogen, and compact fluorescent light bulbs? Because incandescent and halogen bulbs create light through heat, about 90% of the energy they emit is in the form of heat (also called infrared radiation). To reduce the heat emitted by regular incandescent and halogen light bulbs, use a lower watt bulb (like 60 watts instead of 100). Fluorescent light bulbs use an entirely different method to create light. Both compact fluorescent bulbs and fluorescent tubes contain a gas that, when excited by electricity, hits a coating inside the fluorescent bulb and emits light. (This makes them far more energy-efficient than regular incandescent bulbs.) The fluorescent bulbs used in your home emit only around 30% of their energy in heat, making them far cooler. 10.  Why should people use CFLs? Switching from traditional light bulbs (called incandescent) to CFLs is an effective, simple change everyone in America can make right now. Making this change will help to use less electricity at home and prevent greenhouse gas emissions that lead to global climate change. Lighting accounts for close to 20 percent of the average home’s electric bill. ENERGY STAR qualified CFLs use up to 75 percent less energy (electricity) than incandescent light bulbs, last up to 10 times longer, cost little up front, and provide a quick return on investment.  If every home in America replaced just one incandescent light bulb with an ENERGY STAR qualified CFL, in one year it would save enough energy to light more than 3 million homes. That would prevent the release of greenhouse gas emissions equal to that of about 800,000 cars. 11.  Do CFLs contain mercury? CFLs contain a very small amount of mercury sealed within the glass tubing – an average of 4 milligrams (mg). Some manufacturers have even made further reductions, dropping mercury content to 1 mg per light bulb. 12.  What is the recommended proper disposal of CFLs?/What should I do with a CFL when it burns out? Virtually all components of a fluorescent bulb can be recycled. CFLs and other fluorescent light bulbs also contain a very small amount of mercury, so it is important to recycle them at the end of their lifespan.  EPA recommends that consumers take advantage of available local recycling options for compact fluorescent light bulbs. EPA is working with CFL manufacturers and major U.S. retailers to expand recycling and disposal options. Consumers can contact their local municipal solid waste agency directly, or go to epa.gov/cfl/cflrecycling.html or www.earth911.org to identify local recycling options.  If your state or local environmental regulatory agency permits you to put used or broken CFLs in the garbage,seal the bulb in two plastic bags and put it into the outside trash, or other protected outside location, for the next scheduled trash collection. Never send a fluorescent light bulb or any other mercury-containing product to an incinerator. If your ENERGY STAR qualified CFL product burns out before it should, look at the CFL base to find the manufacturer’s name. Visit the manufacturer’s web site to find the customer service contact information to inquire about a refund or replacement. Manufacturers producing ENERGY STAR qualified CFLs are required to offer at least a two-year limited warranty (covering manufacturer defects) for CFLs used at home. In the future, save your receipts to document the date of purchase. 13.  How do CFLs result in less mercury in the environment compared to traditional light bulbs? Electricity use is the main source of mercury emissions in the U.S. CFLs use less electricity than incandescent lights, meaning CFLs reduce the amount of mercury into the environment. As shown in the table below, a 13-watt, 8,000-rated-hour-life CFL (60-watt equivalent; a common light bulb type) will save 376 kWh over its lifetime, thus avoiding 4.3 mg of mercury. If the bulb goes to a landfill, overall emissions savings would drop a little, to 3.9 mg. EPA recommends that CFLs are recycled where possible, to maximize mercury savings. Table 1 Light Bulb Type                           CFL              Incandescent Watts 13 60 Hours of Use 8,000 8,000 kWh Use 104 480 National Average Mercury Emissions 0.012 0.012 (mg/kWh) Mercury from Electricity Use 1.2 5.54 (mg) Mercury from Landfill 0.44 0 (mg) Total Mercury 1.6 5.5 (mg) FAQs 1. What is retrofitting? 2. Why should I consider energy- efficient lighting retrofit? 3. Is there a tax Deduction for the cost of energy-efficient material/property installed in a commercial building? 4. T12 fluorescent lamps are being phased out of production...What should i prepare for? 5.  Why are T12 fluorescent lamps and magnetic ballasts being phased out? 6.  What type of savings can I expect for upgrading? 7.  How many times longer does a CFL or LED last vs. an incandescent? 8.  How exactly are these new bulbs better than traditional incandescent bulbs? 9.  How much heat (or infra-red radiation) is emitted by regular, halogen, and compact fluorescent light bulbs? 10.  Why should people use CFLs? 11.  Do CFLs contain mercury? 12.  What is the recommended proper disposal of CFLs?/What should I do with a CFL when it burns out? 13.  How do CFLs result in less mercury in the environment compared to traditional light bulbs? Optimistic Lighting Maintenance LLC Get a Quote Now! Page 1 2