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Compact Fluorescent Lamps
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A compact fluorescent lamp (CFL), also known as a compact fluorescent light bulb is a type of fluorescent lamp designed to replace an incandescent lamp. Many CFLs can fit in the existing incandescent light fixtures.
Compared to incandescent lamps of the same luminous flux, CFLs use less energy and have a longer rated life. In the United States, a CFL can save over US$30 in electricity costs over the lamp’s lifetime compared to an incandescent lamp and save 2000 times their own weight in greenhouse gases. The initial purchase price of a CFL is higher than an incandescent lamp of the same output, but this cost is recovered in energy savings assuming average lamp use.
The actual environmental effect of CFLs is the subject of much debate. Apart from the gross electrical power saved during operation, it is questioned whether the amount of power and raw materials used in their manufacture compares well with incandescent lamps, and also whether the mercury used in CFLs is a significant environmental hazard.
CFLs radiate a different spectrum of light to that of incandescent lamps. Improved phosphor formulations have improved the quality of the light emitted by CFLs such that the best ’soft white’ CFLs available in 2007 are subjectively similar in quality to standard incandescent lamps.