Advantages of LED over Fluorescent and CFL Lighting

Advantages of LED over Fluorescent and CFL Lighting

Much has been said to support the use of CFL, or Compact Fluorescent Lights, to help the environment. CFLs and Fluorescent tube lights make light using the same method. Electricity is passed through mercury vapor in a phosphor tube, this produces short-wave ultraviolet light which then causes the phosphor to fluoresce, making visible light.

Mercury vapor is a cost effective and useful method but the bulbs produced, once used, create a great deal of waste. A typical 4 foot fluorescent lamp contains about 40 milligrams of mercury. Remember that Mercury is poisonous. Estimates are that up to six million bulbs are disposed of in the United States per year. Mercury waste requires special handling, including bulbs.

What happens when your favorite lamp is knocked over by your child? Broken CFL’s require special clean up. Vacuuming or sweeping up broken glass is not recommended. The clean up procedure can be found online, but don’t sweep or vacuum so as not to spread mercury vapor.

LED lights on the other hand, contain no mercury, last much longer and are cheaper to use. The EarthLED ZetaLux ,a 7 watt LED is the equivalent of a 60 watt CFL or Incandescent bulb. The savings over a lifetime, i.e. 10 years, is $130.00 per bulb, not to mention the waste savings for not having to replace the incandescent or CFL repeatedly.

The ZetaLux line of bulbs can be found at http://www.neutralexistence.com/shop/led-light-bulbs/C102/