A fluorescent bulb uses a completely different method to produce light. This is a trick similar to the one used by creatures like fireflies and glow-worms whose bodies contain chemicals that make "cool light" without any heat. There are electrodes at both ends of a fluorescent tube with various gases inside the tube. A stream of electrons flows through the gas from one electrode to the other. These electrons bump into the mercury atoms and excite them. As the mercury atoms move from the excited state back to the unexcited state, they give off ultraviolet photons. These photons hit the phosphor coating on the inside of the fluorescent tube and this phosphor creates visible light. It sounds complicated and without a scientific background it probably is! The important thing is that the end result is an exceptionally efficient source of light.

There is only one drawback with compact fluorescent bulbs and that is that they cost a lot more than incandescents.

The upside to the higher cost is that they last a very long time. The expected lifetime of most compact fluorescent bulbs is 10 000 hours. In contrast to the long lifetimes of compact fluorescent bulbs, incandescent bulbs are rated to last from 800 to 1000 hours. It would take 10 or more incandescent bulbs to match the life of one compact fluorescent.

If you decide to get on the energy efficiency bandwagon, lighting is an obvious and easy place to start. So have a look around your house at your existing choice of bulbs; you might just see the light at the end of the energy efficiency tunnel!

www.paddocks.co.za