Normal fluorescent tube light vs CFL bulb?

Question

Out of normal fluorescent tube light and CFL bulb, which one is more energy efficient?

Answer 1

The CFL bulb is more efficient, but that comes at a cost of being more toxic as they contain mercury.

Answer 2

It is actually a matter of whether or not you want to change your fixtures.  Tube lights and CFLs use about the same amount of power but the tube lights spread the light over a larger area.  

I have tube lights in my kitchen and CFLs every where else in the house.  But since I specifically changed the fixture to be a tube light in the kitchen( for more light), and didn't change the other fixtures for aesthetic reasons, it isn't a big deal.  

Either one is a major improvement over incandescent lights.

Answer 3

They are both about the same.  They use the same technology.

Answer 4

What this sections top contributor fails to realize is that a standard fluorescent tube contains 5 times more mercury than a compact fluorescent bulb. And both reduce the amount of mercury released into the environment by reducing the amount of electricity that needs to be generated by mercury releasing coal power plants.

I do believe that in terms of a lumen's to wattage ratio, the two types of fluorescent bulb are fairly similar. But the little ones can be used much more easily in home applications.

Answer 5

First of all they both use mercury.  They probably have the same efficiency when comparing their light output to their energy consumption.  Either way they both use much less energy than their incandescent counterparts and don't heat up like incandescents do either.