Lighting

Energy-efficient lighting will help you save on your power bill and help our environment. Compact fluorescent lights and fluorescent tubes are the most energy- and cost-effective lighting alternative for your home.

Compact fluorescent lights (CFLs) are fluorescent tubes shaped to fit an ordinary light fitting. They save energy by reducing the wattage needed in a light fitting while producing the same amount of light.

Changing one 60W light bulb to an 11W CFL can save $16 per year off your electricity bill.  CFLs last from 6000 to 15000 hours, 6 to 15 times longer than incandescent light bulbs and use about one fifth of the energy.

Lighting alternatives

There are three common types of light bulbs used in the home.  These are:

• Incandescent
• Compact fluorescent lights (and fluorescent tubes)
• Halogen

Incandescent light bulbs convert 95% of their electricity into heat, and only 5% into light, so they are far less efficient than CFLs.

There is a misconception that low voltage halogen lights are a better lighting alternative; however they use nearly as much energy as an incandescent light bulb and generate a lot of heat.  Halogen lights are often used as downlights and spotlights but indoor halogen lights are not suitable to light large areas because of their ‘focussing’ effect.

CFLs are suitable for use in most instances and are particularly good for areas where lighting is required for long periods of time, such as the living room and kitchen, and for security lighting. While you will pay more up front for a CFL, they will save you money in the long term in replacement and electricity costs.

Of course, the best way to save on your energy bills is to turn your lights off when they are not being used.

Getting the most out of CFLs

Like common incandescent light bulbs, CFLs are available in a screw or bayonet fitting.

CFLs come in a wide range of shapes, sizes and wattages and can be used in downlights, spotlights, exterior lights and lamps. You can choose the level of brightness suitable for your rooms and light fittings. To work out which wattage you need to replace an incandescent light bulb, check this chart (PDF, 88 KB).

Although early CFLs had a stark light, newer CFLs come in a selection of colour tones such as cool white, warm white and daylight to suit your needs. CFLs are also available in yellow as a bug deterrent for outside your home.

If you are unsure which CFL will be the best fit, take your old incandescent light bulb with you to your lighting retailer. Don’t forget to check the fitting, wattage, colour and length. Like other lights, not all CFLs are the same quality, so look for brands with the longest life.

Specialised CFLs are becoming available for dimmers. Ask your specialist lighting retailer about dimmable CFLs. Also, using CFLs in high humidity areas, such as bathrooms, can shorten their life expectancy.

How to change to a CFL

You fit a CFL in exactly the same way that you fit a common incandescent light bulb.  This fact sheet (PDF, 88 KB) tells you how to replace an incandescent light with a CFL.

Mercury in CFLs

CFLs contain trace amounts of mercury (5mgs).  By comparison, mercury thermometers contain 300 to 500mg of mercury.

Although there are only trace amounts of mercury, care should be taken if the CFL is broken.  If you break a CFL, take the following steps to minimise risk:

• Sweep up – don’t vacuum – all of the glass fragments and fine particles.  If any gets into carpeted areas, use a damp cloth to pick up particles and fragments.

• Place broken pieces in a sealed plastic bag and wipe the area with a damp cloth to pick up stray shards of glass or fine particles.  Put the used cloth in the plastic bag as well.

• Take care with any broken glass.

• If weather permits, open windows to allow the room to ventilate.

To dispose of the broken CFL, place the sealed bag in your rubbish bin for kerbside collection.” 

It is important to dispose of CFLs safely and responsibly.  Do not place CFLs in your recycling bin.