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Proforma Safety, LLC Proforma PSI…when performanance counts New CFLs Present a New Set of Problems The benefits of compact fluorescent lights (CFLs) include a much longer lifespan than incandescent light bulbs. Energy Star says that if every home in the U.S. replaced just one light bulb with a CFL, we would save enough energy to light more than 3 million homes for a year, more than $600 million in annual energy costs, and prevent greenhouse gases equivalent to the emissions of more than 800,000 cars. However, CFLs come with their own baggage, least of which is that some people dislike the tone of light given off by these bulbs; there is speculation that the light quality may increase susceptibility to depression and trigger epilepsy symptoms. Also, the bulb’s brightness dims over time. CFLs perform best in open fixtures that allow airflow. There are problems with light fixtures connected to a dimmer or three-way socket fixtures. And it’s important to choose the correct CFL for the job. Most important, CFLs have a small amount of mercury that
requires special handling and disposal. For example, if you
break a bulb, you should leave the room for 15 minutes and
open the window. There’s
important advice offered at by the EPA. Whether for home
or office use, we urge everyone to become informed about these
new bulbs and how to handle them properly.
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