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CFLs or W are a popular choice for energy-efficient lighting, and have the advantage that they can be used in regular light fittings.
W with W are slightly more efficient than other regular fluorescent lights and CFLs and give a more pleasant light.[verification needed]
W lighting is becoming increasingly attractive. It is used in remote regions such as Nepal, by the Light Up the World Foundation as a healthier replacement for kerosene lighting. These lights are far sturdier than other types of lighting, especially compared to fluorescent lights.
Toxicity
The mercury levels in fluorescent lights (including CFLs) are now usually considered to be within safe limits. However this is likely to vary widely between brands and models, and care should of course always be taken not to break them
Potential problems with fluorescents (including CFLs)
Note that the quality of fluorescents can vary enormously
- light quality (spectrum)
- flickering,
- noise (whining)
- unpredictable life span (too sensitive to shocks, surges?) particularly in some cheaper brands.[verification needed]
- many CFLs are being installed in circuits that are controlled by dimmers, but not all CFLs are designed to tolerate dimmers, which can cause failures in power generation section of the lamp.[1] With the growth of dimmable CFLs, this issue is declining.
- Fluorescent bulbs still contain mercury, a hazard material leading to disposal issues, particularly in less developed regions where disposal is not regulated.
Suggested projects
- Compare light quality of different lights. What is the flicker rate of CFL? Are there better quality ones, comparable to the high quality but expensive tri-phoshpor fluorescent lights with electronic ballasts?[expansion needed]
- Start a section on tri-phosphor lighting in the relevant Wikipedia and/or Appropedia article.)[expansion needed]
- Compare the life expectancy of different types of lights - find peer-reviewed studies, if possible. What factors affect life expectancy?[expansion needed] (CFLs sometime don't last as long as expected in my experience, though I've been told by an efficient lighting expert that Phillips and Osram are more reliable than other brands. --Chriswaterguy · talk 19:19, 1 May 2007 (PDT))