Fluorescent Light Technology

Fluorescent Light: A gas-discharge lamp that uses electricity to excite mercury vapor, producing short-wave ultraviolet light that then causes a phosphor to fluoresce, resulting in visible light emission. Fluorescent lights require a ballast to regulate the flow of power through the bulb.

There is phosphor inside the fluorescent light bulb tube that, when excited, converts ultraviolet radiation into visible light. The chemical composition of the phosphor determines the color temperature of the light emitted by the bulb.

Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs (CFL): A CFL can use less than one-third the electricity of incandescent bulbs of equivalent brightness and last up to nine years. CFLs contain an average of 5 milligrams of mercury, which increases the bulb’s efficiency, posing a new toxic threat to the environment.

Legislation: The Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 (the “Energy Bill”), signed by the President on December 18, 2007 requires all light bulbs use 30% less energy than today’s incandescent bulbs by 2012 to 2014. The phase-out will start with 100-watt bulbs in January 2012 and end with 40-watt bulbs in January 2014. By 2020, a Tier 2 would become effective which requires all bulbs to be at least 70% more efficient (effectively equal to today’s CFLs). In California, a legislator recently proposed banning the sale of incandescent light bulbs in the state by 2012.