A Closer Look At CFLs, Part 4: Take It To The Limit

Posted on August 26, 2007 by Melissa
Filed Under A Closer Look, Frugality

Now that we know how to choose the right bulb we should next examine the best and worst places to use them. Let’s look at ways to maximize our return on our CFLs by using them correctly.

Not all areas/fixtures are ideal for CFLs. When determining which fixtures are best suited to convert to CFL think of any light that you:

Use for at least 15 minutes at a time OR
Use for several hours a day.

Places that you frequently turn the light on and off or use for only short bursts at a time - like closets - are not ideal for CFLs. Frequent on and off cycling can reduce the life of CFLs so keep them where their benefits can be maximized - common areas, bedrooms, and perhaps the master bathroom.

I’m not saying you can’t go gung-ho and use them in any area you want - just be aware that they won’t live up to their fullest cost saving potential under these conditions.

CFLs don’t like temperature extremes. Excessive heat can damage the bulb and excessive cold can cut down on their efficiency. To best combat any heat issues remember that CFLs perform best when in open air fixtures. Avoid using high wattage CFLs in tightly enclosed fixtures where the heat generated by the bulb can get trapped. GE says this about using CFLs in enclosed light fixtures:

Compact fluorescent light bulbs may generally be used in enclosed fixtures as long as the enclosed fixture is not recessed. Totally enclosed recessed fixtures (for example, a ceiling can light with a cover over the bulb) create temperatures that are too high to allow the use of a compact fluorescent bulb.

If you are still worried about heat becoming an issue with an enclosed fixture, like a glass dome ceiling light, try using lower wattage CFLs. You can also use fewer bulbs if it accommodates several, or simply leave off the enclosure part of the fixture so it can breathe.

CFLs are known for being less efficient in cold weather which can result in lower light levels. To keep this effect to a minimum try using a CFL specially designed for outdoor use. I just changed to CFLs this spring so I haven’t seen them perform in the winter yet. I’ll be curious to see how dramatic the effect really is.

Many CFLs are not appropriate for specialty purposes. You will need to buy specially marked CFLs if you want to use them for the following fixture types:

track lighting
recessed can lighting
dimmers
3-ways
outdoors

The good news is that manufacturers are now producing CFLs that are designed to fit each of these needs.

To clarify about a few of these restrictions:

You can use a standard CFL in a 3-way fixture but it will only work on the middle or “medium” setting. Only a CFL designed for 3-way fixtures will light in all 3 modes.
You can use standard CFLs outside but they must be protected. Be aware that they likely won’t last as long if exposed to the elements. It‘s best to use CFLs explicitly labeled for outdoor use to maximize their potential. Outdoor CFLs have protective coatings to help with the temperature changes and some even have coatings designed to make the light less attractive to bugs at night

Vibrations shorten lives. Many manufacturers don’t recommend using standard CFLs in applications involving frequent vibration because it can damage the electronics in the CFL, causing them to fail quicker. This could include places like ceiling fans and garage door openers to name a few. GE makes a CFL especially designed for ceiling fans now.

Keep in mind that CFLs as a whole are very dependable and pretty hardy. After all, there is no hair strand filament to break like there is with incandescent bulbs. I am not implying that CFLs are finicky or especially fragile by giving all these tips. I am simply passing along some precautions that can keep your CFLs running at peak performance.

This concludes our 4-part series on CFLs. I hope that you will take a chance on these bulbs. If you are still unsure - go back and read Part 1. I’m sure that will do the trick.

Let’s face it; the trend is certainly indicating that the CFL is here to stay, and for good reason. In my opinion, virtually every home has at least one or two places a CFL could save them real money on their electric bill. Some countries, such as Canada and Australia, have already proposed banning incandescent lights as a way to conserve energy.

For those lingering environmental concerns - as more and more people start using CFLs there will likely be more options for recycling them safely. When their popularity spreads perhaps the technology will produce an even better model that lessens any potential impact. We will see.

For now, I will celebrate the CFL as it is: reliable, efficient, conscientious, a little peculiar, and one of the simplest changes I have made to save money.

A Closer Look at CFLs Series Index
    Part 1: Conscientiously Frugal Lighting
    Part 2: Every Rose has its Thorn
    Part 3: Lumens and Kelvins and Watts, Oh My!
    Part 4: Take it to the Limit

Comments

9 Responses to “A Closer Look At CFLs, Part 4: Take It To The Limit”

Llama Money on November 5th, 2007 2:59 pm

I applaud you for trying to debunk some of the myths about modern-day CFL’s. Most people think they’re still the horrid, flickery, unnatural beasts that they were years ago. Nowadays I think 99+% of folks couldn’t tell the difference unless they were already “against” CFL’s due to past experiences.
Melissa on November 6th, 2007 3:42 pm

@Llama Money - Welcome! Some of my friends refuse to give CFLs a shot because they feel the light is “odd”. I personally think CFLs are great and wouldn’t go back. Thanks for the comment!
Len - Ceiling Fans & Lighting on April 14th, 2008 10:39 am

What do you know about CFLs and ceiling fans that are lighted?
charadeur(new comment) on August 18th, 2008 9:55 am

One bit of misinformation here.
“Use for at least 15 minutes at a time ”

This simply is incorrect as proven in Mythbusters episode 69. They found that a 10 watt CFL used .015 seconds of run time to start so if you have the light on for one second it will save energy over an incandescent bulb.

I also have used my own Kill-O-Watt meter and found the same is true with a 27 watt CFL.

You will save money by replacing even bulbs that are used for a short time. One thing that I am still looking for is if there is an significant shorting of CFL life by frequent on/off cycles. Mythbusters left us hanging on this issue by finding that frequent on/off killed all bulbs within 6 months except the LED bulb. I would recreate this except I don’t want to spend the money.
Coco(new comment) on September 28th, 2008 4:32 pm

Nice post!!!
David Newkirk(new comment) on February 6th, 2009 10:06 am

Energy usage once the bulb is in the socket is not all of the picture. I’m on the lookout for an exhaustive analysis of the environmental impact of manufacturing and marketing a standard bulb versus an equivalent CFL. A CFL has many more components than a standard bulb and includes solid-state devices and petrochemical pieces (its outer plastic shell, for instance). That means more people, places, factories, transport, and resources to build a CFL compared to a standard bulb. Genericized, energy, the only cost of a lamp once it’s in the socket–forgetting recycling issues for now–is a renewable and scalable by the user, but the environmental impact of the lamp before it hits the socket is not. And yet that impact is very important part of the picture. My sense is that manufacture of standard bulbs is much more sustainable than manufacture of CFLs.
printable coupons(new comment) on February 15th, 2009 6:23 am

I have been bookmarking several sites with printable grocery coupons. If you want my list let me know. I am sure you’re like us, needing to save every dime you can.
Rich(new comment) on April 3rd, 2009 4:39 pm

//One bit of misinformation here.
“Use for at least 15 minutes at a time ”
This simply is incorrect as proven in Mythbusters episode 69. They found that a 10 watt CFL used .015 seconds of run time to start so if you have the light on for one second it will save energy over an incandescent bulb.//

No, you misunderstand. This is not a myth but a recommendation. Frequent power-cycling significantly shortens the CFL’s service life. I believe that it thermally stresses the filaments.

In truth what this means is that normal usage means you will get a significantly shorter service life than claimed on the package (which is normally from 5-7 years). Since I started writing the install date on the bulb’s base and tracking, out of the 18 or so CFLs I’ve replaced the average life was 1.49 years.

So basically all the claims about bulb life and the savings for any particular bulb are patently false. But real data is in short supply unless you generate your own.

I don’t suspect that the actual life of LED bulbs will be much better.
A Closer Look At CFLs Part 4 Take It To The Limit A Penny Closer | Outdoor Ceiling Fans(new comment) on May 31st, 2009 8:46 am

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