conscientious lights

By 2010 the Australian Government will have phased out incandecscent light globes in favour of CFL energy saving light globes.

Mini Spiral Wide variety produced: 8 watt (40 watt incandescent) 10 watt (50 watt incandescent) 15 watt (75 watt incandescent) Edison screw and bayonets (and also available in thinner bayonets and screw in fittings). Great for lamps, oyster fittings and light fitting that require more than one globe. Not suitable as a single light for a room.

  QUICK FACTS + CFLs are related to Fluoro Lights in technology. Both contain miniscule amounts of mercury which is why they use so little electricity. + CLFs use most of their electricity to go on and barely any once on. +CLFs come in 3 colours 1) WHITE LIGHT (similar to fluoro or shopping centre lights), 2) Day light and 3) Warm light (More golden in colour). + New CFLs should NOT flicker and the light should be stable. Always buy CFLs from stores with a high turnover to avoid old stocks. +Low wattage HALOGENS are not low energy- each generates a kilogram of gas every 15 hours. +LED (Light emitting diode) lamps are energy efficient and long last. Excellent outdoor choice. +CFLs (Carbon Fluoro Lights/lamps) deliver most light to side so reflectors can spread the light and make them even more efficient. +CFLs work with sensors but not yet with dimmers (they probably will have something on the market for dimmers in the next few years). +All CFLs are made in China. However, Mirabella is an Australian brand and has a globe to fit almost any edison screw or bayonet socket (including chandeliers and candle shape). Retailers are slow to stock the full range. TIPS + Mulitply the CFLs wattage by 5 to get the equivalent to the light of an incandescent. For example CFLs 8 wattage = Incandescent 40 wattage, CFLs 23 wattage + Incandescent 115 wattage. +Outdoors lights can double greenhouse emissions, so use LED or sensors. + Halogens use a large amount of electricity but have a long shelf life(so at least your not filling landfuls every few months). Hold on to your halogens for the moment but use lamps with CFLs in the room for everyday use. Energy efficient alternatives to halogens will eventually come onto the market. + Buy CFLs from retailers who sell a lot of globes for 3 reasons 1) old stocks of CFLs flicker 2) there is a higher fault rate with light burning out after months instead of years and 3) Old stocks only came in White Light.

Large Spirals, usually in high wattage for Outdoor, Sensor or Large rooms.

Slimline CFLs, the first style on the market and most common.

CFLS Spotlights and Outdoor Sensor lights in higher wattages

SNAP SHOT

Shopping for Energy Saving Globes- 3 Sydney retailers in 3 different suburbs

BUNNING ALEXANDRIA SYDNEY 2ND JULY 07 Range: Despite a huge number rows of globes, the CFLs globes were all duplicate size (either huge, strong out door fittings or small low light only suitable for small lamps). Bunnings only stocked 2 brands (Osran and Philips) and not the full range of either. I could not find a single CFL globes to fit my purposes (equivilant to 80-100 watt, normal size bayonets. Nothing even near in bunnings). All globes were large outdoor high wattage or small, suitable only for a fitting such as oyster fitting which take serveral low watt globes. RATING: Extremely poor range.

COLES REDFERN SYDNEY 3 JULY 07 Range: Only one brand, Philip, on shelves- Philips longs 13 watts (65 watt incandescent) only but too long for most fittings. Nelson Fancy Round 10 watt (50 watt incandescent). Aladdin mini short spiral 20 watt (100 watt incandescent, but this light would be too wide inside fittings so could only be used outdoors). RATING: Extremely poor and perpetuating the myth that CFLs are not bright enought by display such a poor range.

WOOLWORTH NEUTRAL BAY SYDNEY 4TH JULY 07 RANGE: Stock a full range of Philips, Mirabella and Osram. In the Philips range there was some small and mini spiral globes for chandliers etc. All the mediums and an impressive choice of watts and lights. 8 watts= 40 watts 10 watts= 50 watts 13 watts= 65 watts 15 watts= 75 watt 18 wattts = 80 watts 20 watts = 100 watts 23 watts=115 Between the brands not too much duplication but the customer is able to find the exact light and size. RATING Execellent. A couple of shelves in Woolworths offered a massively better range than 3 rows in Bunnings.

Mercury facts. Mercury (Hg on the periodic table) found naturally in the environment as well as man-made. Electric power stations, particularly coal-fired stations, are the primary man-made source, as mercury contained in coal is released into the air when coal is burned to make electricity. CFLS contain a small amount of mercury, roughly the equivalent to the tip of a ball point pen. The mercury is encased and is deep with in the plastic stem of the globes so if you break the glass, you are not breaking into the encased mercury- you would really need to intentionally hammer at the globe to release the mercury. There is also mercury in most street lights, all fluoro lights,, many dental fillings, most watches and of course thermometres. CFLs Globes 5 milligrams watch around 40 milligrams Thermometre 500 milligrams Although it would take a massive blow to release the miniscule amount of mercury, you might want to use gloves and wrap the globe before disposing of it. Globes last around 6 times that of incandescent lights, so as for landfills, there would be one new globe for ever 6 or 7 old globes. As with everything with mercury or harmful gases we hope for better options for disposing of these products. Most people throw out batteries etc. with normal garbage. This is a bigger issue than just the light globes and we look forward to your suggestions.

The Mercury Myths -toxic exploding bulbs! Have you heard the urban myth about the toxic light exploding in the girls room. There has been two versions circulating. The Australian one; someone called up talk back radio and said a CFLs light had exploded in a friend's daughters bedroom and the family were forced to call emergency services. The second story, an American verison originally reported in the Washington Post. According to the report, the family called a toxic waste clean up company after a light exploded. The company told the family there was dangerously high readings of mercury in the girls room, sealed the room and charged the family $US2000 for the clean up. According to www.hoax-slayer.com/mercury-flurescent-lights.shtml. The story in the Washington Post was correctly reported but CFLs could not cause such contamination and the family were taken advantage of by the company who quoted the clean up price.

Mercury Poisoning. Mercury Poisoning is caused by prolonged and excessive exposure to Mercury (i.e. Touching, inhaling or consuming). The most famous instances was a river poisoning in Japan and there have also been cases of Mercury poisoning after industrial accidents. Anecdotally Mercury is suspected of damaging the brain and embryos although it is difficult to find specific cases . In everyday life, the most common effects from Mercury seems to be from filling in teeth. The symptoms may include a low immune system. Its hard to detect without a urine test, as symptoms can be everything from diarrhea to madness! Keep things in perspective, we are told Salmon is excellent for brain development because of its Omega 3 but at the same time it is high in Mercury! ...