Getting the Most from Compact Fluorescent Light (CFL) Bulbs
I have heard that if you turn a light on and off frequently you
shouldn't use a fluorescent bulb. Is this true of compact fluorescents?
Asked by
Sherrie VandePutte
Ortonville, MI
Also, why do fluorescent bulbs buzz? Is there any way to avoid this?
Answer
Fluorescent bulbs have two great advantages over their older cousins,
incandescent bulbs: they use a lot less energy and they last a lot
longer. The caveat on the latter, though, is that turning them on and
off frequently will shorten their lives. You'll still get the energy
savings, so no downside there, and they'll probably still last longer
than an incandescent, but you might not get that optimal 8,000 or
10,000-hour usage (compared to 1,000 or so for an incandescent).
The rule of thumb is that, if a light is likely to be used regularly
for less than 15 or 20 minutes at a time (for example, a closet light),
it may not make sense from a bulb-life point of view to use fluorescent.
Fluorescents do take a "jumpstart" burst of energy for a fraction of a
second at startup, but it's not really significant. You will still gain
the overall energy savings of 75% or so over incandescent bulbs.
Fluorescent buzz is pretty much an old-school problem. The previous
generation of fluorescent bulbs used magnetic ballasts where the newer
ones use electronic ballasts. On top of being more energy efficient, the
electronic ballasts do not buzz. All Energy Star qualified CFLs use
electronic ballasts. And fluorescent bulbs come in much better colors
than the old-school ones did. So the excuses to say "I hate fluorescent
lighting" are getting harder to come by.
For more information:
You should read David Bergman's Ask A Pro Q&A "Are
there CFLs or other energy-saving lightbulbs that work on a
dimmer-regulated light fixture?" for more lighting tips.