This document summarizes the benefits of switching from incandescent light bulbs to compact fluorescent light (CFL) bulbs. CFL bulbs use 50-80% less energy and last much longer than incandescent bulbs, saving money on electricity costs over time. While CFL bulbs contain mercury which requires proper disposal, switching to CFL can significantly reduce a household's carbon footprint and energy usage. Large-scale adoption of CFL could save billions and reduce the need for new power plants.

1. Energy Conservation Project
By
Adam Zopel
By switching to energy-efficient lighting, we can improve the
environment, and save some money too.

2. Questions
 Can changing my incandescent lighting to
compact fluorescent light (CFL) minimize my
carbon footprint?
 What is the difference between CFL and
incandescent lighting?
 How much money can I save by switching to
CFL?
 Are there any negatives associated with CFL?

3. What is incandescent lighting?
 A lamp that creates radiant energy when its
metallic filament is heated by an electric current.
-In 1802, English chemist Sir Humphry Davy
showed that electric currents could heat thin
strips of metal to white heat, thus producing
light. This was the beginning of incandescent
(defined as glowing with intense heat) electric
light.

4. What is Compact Fluorescent
Lighting? (CFL)
 CFL is simply a miniature version of full-
sized fluorescents. They screw into
standard lamp sockets, and give off light
that looks just like the common
incandescent bulbs - not like the
fluorescent lighting we associate with
factories and schools.

5. Carbon Footprint
Using CFL Reduces Air and Water Pollution
 Replacing a single incandescent bulb with a CFL
will keep a half-ton of CO2 out of the
atmosphere over the life of the bulb.
 If everyone in the U.S. used energy-efficient
lighting, we could retire 90 average size power
plants. Saving electricity reduces CO2
emissions, sulfur oxide and high-level nuclear
waste.

6.  Electric lighting burns up to 25% of the
average home energy budget.
 The electricity used over the lifetime of a
single incandescent bulb costs 5 to 10
times the original purchase price of the
bulb itself.
How much could we save by using CFL?

7. Benefits
 CFL uses 50 - 80% less energy than
incandescent bulbs.
 CFL are four times more efficient and last
up to 10 times longer than incandescent.
A 22 watt CFL bulb has about the same
light output as a 100 watt incandescent.

8. Technological Improvements
 Newer CFL give a warm, inviting light
instead of the "cool white" light of older
fluorescents. New electronically ballasted
CFL don't flicker or hum.
 CFL can be installed nearly anywhere that
incandescent lights are used.

9. CFL Negatives
 Most CFL is produced in China using extensive,
"environment polluting" processes. The burning
of coal is often involved.
 CFL contains the toxic element mercury.
Disposal practices have not been verified, nor
have the dangers of any leaking mercury been
satisfyingly explored and documented.
 Electronic equipment and timers may
malfunction if they are too close to a CFL.
 Prices vary considerably. They are still at the
expense end of the lighting market.

10. Methodology
 I will switch to using compact fluorescent
light bulbs in three areas of my house.
 I will project how much money I’ll save in a
one year period.
 I will project how much money could be
saved if my efforts could be duplicated on
a large scale.

11. INDOOR
READING:
Incandescent CFL CFL
Annual
Saving
Wattage 100 23
Hrs On/Day 4 4
Annual Cost $11.64 $2.64 $8.82
PORCH LIGHTS:
Wattage 75 18
Hrs On/Day 12 12
Annual Cost $25.79 $6.19 $19.60
GARAGE/SHOP
Wattage 75 18
Hrs On/Day 8 8
Annual Cost $17.19 $4.13 $13.07
Total yearly savings: $41.49
Here is an analysis of my
personal use

12. Here is an analysis of savings on a massive scale
$2,554,500$2,013,960$1,473,420$932,880$392,340
Savings by
using
CFLs
Combined Savings After
Five Years
Combined Savings
After Four Years
Combined Savings
After Third Years
Combined Savings
After Two Years
Combined
Savings After
First Year
$3.294,000$2,635,200$1,976,400$1,317,600$658,800
90,000
Incandescents
(replaced
each year)
$739,500$621,240$502,980$384,720$266,46090,000
CFLs
Total Cost After Five
Years
Total Cost After
Four Years
Total Cost After
Three Years
Total Cost After
Two Years
Total Cost After
One Year

13. Conclusion
 This is really a no-brainer. Switching over
to CFL can save you money and they last
longer too. The big concern I have is
disposal. I’m a little disconcerted with the
prospect of all that mercury escaping into
our environment.
 A future project for someone could be to
devise a recycling program for spent CFL.

14. References
 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Compact_fluorescent_lamp
 http://cflbulbs.com/
 http://www.popularmechanics.com/home_journal/home_impro
 http://www.gelighting.com/na/home_lighting/ask_us/faq_comp
 For what to do if you
break a CFL in your
house visit:
 http://www.snopes.co
m/medical/toxins/cfl.a
sp