Energy Saving
Saving energy is good for the environment as well as your bank balance and, with modern lighting technology, is as easy as plugging in a new light bulb!
*Please note that this is an approximate value and that this exact power rating may not be available.
FAQs about compact fluorescent bulbs
Do they flicker when you turn them on?
Unlike early energy saver lamps a few years ago, the latest designs include electronic rapid start circuitry to make the lamp light in less than 1 second with virtually no flickering.
Don’t they give a rather harsh light?
Some older designs had quite a high “colour temperature” (see glossary) which may be perceived as “colder” but many energy saving lamps now give off a “warm white” light to make the light very similar to a normal incandescent bulb.
Do they take time to “warm up”?
The latest compact fluorescent lamps “warm up” very much faster than older designs, typically reaching 95% of their full light output in under a minute.
They are always too long and stick out above my lampshade!
Again, with the latest designs, this need not happen. Many compact fluorescents are now so small that they are virtually the same size, or even smaller, than ordinary bulbs. If the bulb is visible, you can choose from one of the designs that uses a decorative outer bulb to cover the fluorescent tubes.
Do compact fluorescents get hot?
Compact fluorescents are far more energy efficient than normal light bulbs so they give out far less heat, making them safer for use in unattended security or night light applications. This also makes them ideal for use with lampshades made of delicate materials that can be damaged by heat. All lamps do however give off some heat and should not be used in a totally enclosed light fitting unless there is some way for the heat to escape.
Are “Energy Saver” and “Long Life” bulbs the same thing?
Yes and no! Compact fluorescent lamps do generally have much longer life than ordinary incandescent bulbs but there are also many other types of “long life” bulb, most of which do not also save energy. Generally a normal incandescent bulb will have a rated life of around 1000hrs whereas compact fluorescent energy saving bulbs have a rated life of between 3,000 and 15,000 hours.
Can energy savers be used with a dimmer switch?
Most compact fluorescent energy savers available on the UK market cannot be dimmed using a standard domestic dimmer. The latest technology “Dimmerable” energy savers started to be introduced in October 2007 and can be dimmed simply by rotating a standard dimmer switch. Please check to ensure that you are ordering the correct item before using an energy saver with a dimmer switch.
