Hello,

I'm evaluating yellow 'round/bulb' shaped energy saving florescent
lights to replace the less reliable and energy wasting ones commonly
used which range from the 60w to 100w power rating.

Are developments in commercially available florescent lights good
enough now to have the same impact on eyes safety as Hologen lights
have?

In terms of power consumption and size/shape issues, are they able to
fit in where regular 60w and 100w lights fit?

What are the leading brands/models recommended for residence if power
costs are considered to be worth the investment in good quality units?

What is their life expectancy in terms of hours of operation ratings?

Has Hologen technology evolved considerably for an energy conscious
person to reconsider them?  I prefer Holegen all the way of course.
:-)

Thank you.

/Lizardnation

Hi,

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has a great section on
Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs
http://www.energystar.gov/products/cfls/

To answer your questions one at a time.
Are developments in commercially available florescent lights good
enough now to have the same impact on eyes safety as Hologen lights
have?
 
Absolutely yes. CFLs are available in a range of light output colors.
The higher the Kelvin (color temperature) rating, the brighter and
whiter the light. Choose a CFL rated near 3000K for a warm look
similar to an incandescent light bulb.

In terms of power consumption and size/shape issues, are they able to
fit in where regular 60w and 100w lights fit?
 
Absolutely, yes. There are CFLs that fit in all traditional light
sockets.

What are the leading brands/models recommended for residence if power
costs are considered to be worth the investment in good quality units?

All the common and reputable light bulb manufacturers such as GE and
Phillips produce them. They are all top quality.

What is their life expectancy in terms of hours of operation ratings?

Each of the bulbs savings and life expectancy differ, depending on the
watts. In general, the EPA says,
"A typical ENERGY STAR qualified CFL lasts up to ten times longer than
an equivalent incandescent bulb.
and...An ENERGY STAR labeled CFL can last up to 5 years."


Has Hologen technology evolved considerably for an energy conscious
person to reconsider them?  I prefer Holegen all the way of course.

Hologen technology has evolved over the past few years, but it in no
way compares to the energy efficiency of CFls.

Consider the recommendations of the State of California, trying very
hard to get consumers to use less electricity. They compare halogen to
CFLs and say...
"Halogen lights were once considered the lighting of the future.
Although some halogens use up to 20 percent less energy than
incandescent lights and last anywhere from 2,000 to 6,000 hours, they
are far less efficient than compact fluorescents. In addition halogens
burn hotter than other lights, so keep them at least six inches away
from all flammable materials.

Popular halogen torchieres use bulbs in the 300-watt range. New
compact fluorescent torchieres use two 36-watt lamps that provide 25
percent more light using one-fourth the energy of the halogen
torchiere. The new compact fluorescent torchieres are also far safer
than the halogen torchieres because they do not operate at the same
high temperatures."

http://www.energy.ca.gov/efficiency/lighting/

Also, the Lawrence Livermore Laboratory has some lighting myths...they
say
"Myth: Halogen lighting is super-efficient.

Fact: It’s true that halogen lights use less energy than standard
incandescent bulbs. However, compact fluorescent lights are nearly
three-times as efficient as halogen and don’t have the energy-hogging
transformers. Also, halogens require transformers that can use extra
energy, even when the light is off."
http://www.lbl.gov/Science-Articles/Archive/energy-myths3.html

Search Strategy:
CFLs
halogen vs CFLs
lighting efficiency

Covered the whole issue completely. :-)