Energy-saving light bulbs: pluses and minuses. The best energy-saving light bulbs

Since the emergence of energy-saving lamps in the markets, conventional incandescent lamps have rapidly begun to take their positions. This is due to the fact that it comes out of the name of the product - energy saving. However, the freshest scientific research dumbfounded the buyers with the statement that energy-saving lamps are dangerous. How to choose a "housekeeper", weigh all the pros and cons and come to a single right decision?

Energy-saving light bulbs: pros and cons

First let's talk about the merits of these products.

• Energy saving is due to high light output. Incandescent lamps lag far behind energy saving in this indicator, as more than 85% of all energy expended goes to the accumulation of heat that enters the tungsten wire. In the housekeeper, the same electricity is directly converted into light.
• Continuing to talk about what energy-saving lamps have pros and cons, one should not forget about the durability of these devices. The average time that a light bulb can work without interruptions is 6-15 thousand hours. The structure of these lamps does not include a filament, which over time burns out. Therefore, the period that the housekeeper can serve, at times exceeds the time of the operation of incandescent lamps.
• Energy-saving lamps allow the user to choose the level of luminescence.
• The best energy-saving light bulbs do not overheat even at the highest power. Therefore, they can be used in narrow luminaires made of materials that can deform from heat. At the same time, incandescent lamps can melt the plafond, plastic accessories on the chandelier and even wires, which is very dangerous.
• The light is distributed evenly throughout the room. In the design of conventional light bulbs, light is emitted directly from the tungsten filament in only one direction. Energy-saving lamp distributes light as evenly as possible thanks to the fact that everything is shining. Researchers note that this effect lowers the level of fatigue in human eyes.

Energy-saving lamps and their disadvantages

So, continuing to talk about what energy-saving bulbs have pros and cons, let's now dwell on the shortcomings.

• The time that an energy-saving lamp can serve depends on the chosen mode. In rooms where the light is switched on / off all the time, energy-saving lamps are not suitable.
• The price is quite high (from 75 to 350 rubles.).
• Duration of warm-up. Instantly illuminate the room with the help of this lamp is impossible, because it warms up gradually. On average this process lasts 2 minutes.

• The possibility of flicker that irritates the eyes is not excluded.
• Energy-saving lamps emit ultraviolet. Such rays are dangerous for all people, because they negatively affect the skin, especially for those whose skin is very sensitive. They are categorically forbidden to be close to such lamps, no closer than 30 cm. An excess of ultraviolet radiation leads to skin diseases. According to studies conducted by physicians, the optimum lamp power for people with problem skin is 21 watts and below.
• These lamps can not be used in chandeliers, where the regulation of the intensity of lighting is provided. This is due to inappropriate design: when the voltage drops at least 10% of the standard, energy-saving light bulbs are turned off due to lack of power.
• By its chemical composition, lamps are not dangerous in daily use. However, breaking up, they release mercury and phosphorus into the air. Pairs of these substances from a single bulb, according to research scientists, are able to exceed the permissible rate by 20 times, from which pregnant women and children who are at this point in the room, can receive irreparable health problems. If an energy-saving light bulb is broken, what to do, a simple user does not always know, so there is a set of certain rules that we gave at the end of the article.
• Mandatory special disposal. Burnt-out lamps are strictly forbidden to be disposed of together with all other waste.

Choosing an energy-saving lamp

To date, the market provides a large selection of products such as energy-saving light bulbs. How to choose this product, so that the lamp is suitable for our characteristics and cost.

Earlier, when we chose an incandescent lamp, our attention was most of all occupied by the questions: how complete is the tungsten filament, the plinth and what is the power. Proceeding from the latter, we mechanically began to calculate how many kilowatts the meter will show after using one such bulb. Significantly low indicator of electricity consumption, therefore, a relatively small fee for its consumption - these are the advantages for which consumers prefer light bulbs energy-saving, the price is higher, but they pay off over time. And the service life of the "economy" is big.

Considering which energy-saving lamps have pros and cons, we talked about such an important indicator as the time of work. The average operating time of a fairly compact fluorescent lamp is not less than 8,000 hours. At the same time, at least 8 ordinary bulbs will be needed. In order to save your own funds, you should also opt for a more economical option.

The most popular are linear fluorescent lamps, they are rather compact due to the smaller diameter of the tube and the reduced content of mercury.

The base of energy-saving lamps

The plinths have a standard size, therefore both for incandescent and for fluorescent lamps type one - E27.

Also, E-14 socket bases are possible for cases where lamps have a non-standard size, less than usual.

Energy Saving Bulbs: Power

The power of energy-saving light bulbs varies in the range of 3-90 W. When choosing a lamp for a house, it is necessary to remember that the level of light output of such lamps is 5 times greater than that of conventional lamps. To pick up a lamp for a room it is possible with the help of a simple mathematical operation, it is necessary to divide the incandescent lamp's power by 5 and we will understand what we need to buy energy-saving light bulbs. How to choose This product by other indicators, consider below.

Color metric

Fluorescent lamps are developed by special technologies, which allow reproducing different levels of illumination. These colors correspond to the scale cold-warm. The color temperature depends on the quantitative index. The higher the temperature characteristics, the light reproduced by the lamp will be closer to the cold tones, and the room will be filled with a blue light. Conversely, a low temperature will fill the room with a reddish color.

This indicator is calculated as follows:

• Below 4000 K - warm shades.
• 4000-6400 K - daylight.
• 6500 and above - cold shades, approaching the blue.

Rules for the operation of energy-saving lamps so that they do not blink

Considering energy-saving light bulbs, pros and cons of these products, you can not avoid the question of blinking the light bulb. It's bad as for the lamp itself - it burns out faster, and for a person - frequent lighting changes have a bad effect on the nerves and eyes of a person.

Let's look at why the switched off energy saving bulb blinks and how to deal with the possible problem of this phenomenon.

• From the safety point of view, the switches must be connected to the phase, not to zero.
• When using fluorescent lamps, the switches should not be equipped with a backlight indicator.
• That the lamps do not blink, you should pay attention to better models. They should have a turn-off delay of at least 2 seconds, then the bulbs will not blink, even if the switch has a built-in night illumination.
• It is desirable to screw in a chandelier for a few plafonds one ordinary light bulb.

Precautions for the operation of lamps

Lamps rated for medium power usually contain about 1 mg of mercury. This is roughly like one bead on the end of the ampoule with the handle paste. The thermometers contain about 500 mg. Despite the fact that the difference in mercury content in a lamp and thermometer is quite high, using lamps, do not forget about caution. Even a small amount of fumes should not get into the air. However, it is not always possible to avoid such situations.

Broken energy saving light bulb

Many buyers wonder: "If an energy-saving light bulb broke, what should I do?" If it still broke, the following measures should be taken:

• All strangers must leave the premises, bypassing the place with the broken lamp.
• It is necessary to ventilate the room well.
• Ventilate only with windows, an artificial air conditioning system must be turned off.
• If an energy-saving light bulb is broken, its fragments and debris should be collected with thick paper and placed in a hermetically sealed jar or cellophane bag.
• Collect small parts and powder with tape or adhesive tape.
• The place where the fragments were, should be treated with wet napkins. All materials that were used to collect residues must also be placed in a sealed bag.
• If an energy-saving light bulb crashes, never collect mercury residues with a vacuum cleaner.
• All things that are in contact with the fragments must be discarded. The same ones that are simply soaked in pairs should be washed well.
• Shoes should be immediately wiped with napkins and left in the open air to be ventilated.
• All unnecessary things should be disposed of, and necessary to thoroughly ventilate.
• After disposing of all waste, wash your hands well.