Compact Fluorescent Lamps

CF lamps come in many shapes and sizes, but they’re not necessarily id entical to standard bulbs so they might not fit into a normal socket or inside a normal lamp shade. Since the manufacturer determines the shapes and sizes, it is worth searching for a brand that fits your needs. It may not be necessary to change the fixture if you can find another base, harp, or even socket extension from your local hardware shop.

Dining rooms frequently use overhead fixtures on a dimmer switch but CF lamps should not be put into these sockets if they are not specifically designed for dimmers (those cost more). CF lamps are useful for exterior lighting, especially during winter. Bear in mind they’ll need a couple of minutes to warm up before lighting the area effectively. This slow increase is acceptable for timed security or surrounding lights but not for garage-door lights or other applications which require a quick response. 

T8 Fluorescent Lamps

Large spaces or kitchen cabinets which use indirect lighting normally use standard fluorescent lamps that come with magnetic ballasts. These may be more efficient than incandescent lamps but aren’t even half as efficient as CF lamps or, for that matter, new "T8" fluorescent lamps that come with electronic ballasts. The T8 ( 4 feet or 8 feet) costs more than a CF lamp but is a great replacement for old fluorescent tubes. T8 lamps are only half  the diameter of conventional tubes and have extremely light electronic ballasts compared to the older magnetic ones.

Fluorescent Lamp Safety

Concerns over the safety of CF and fluorescent lamps have been discussed in great depth, giving the impression that this technology is new when the focus is really on increasing studies on a related issue. Although CF lamps have existed for about 20 years in North America, they have been widely used in Asia and Europe for much longer. There has been sufficient research performed on CF lamps that it is considered a safe technology today.

Mercury Content

Fluorescent lamps – even CF lamps – do contain some mercury in order to produce light, but the amount is small (about 0.005 grams per CFL, which is a drop smaller than a pin-head). A better perspective is to compare the common watch battery that contains 5 times more mercury or a typical dental filling that contains 0.5 g mercury, which is 100 times more than that in a CFL, according to America’s Food and Drug Administration.

CFLs in the Home

It is perfectly safe to use CFLs in the home without having to worry about mercury contamination. The main safety problem is when one is cut if a bulb breaks.

When a CFL bulb breaks, you should sweep up the glass and phosphor powder rather than vacuuming the spillage. Dispose of the pieces in a secured bag before wiping the spilled area with a damp disposable towel to pick up any leftover glass shards.

CFL Disposal

You can dispose of broken or defective CFLs at many retailers which offer recycling facilities, such