Which is better? CFL or halogen?

Question

yahoo has an article from Slate up, touting the CFL over the incadescent, but what about halogens? I switched several years ago to halogens cause a smaller wattage will give me a brighter light than regular incadescents. Now should I change all my light fixtures again??? (we put in several track lighting systems with halogen)

Answer 1

Halogen lamps are more energy efficient  than standard incandescent lamps. Halogen can run much hotter without breaking the filament. But the increased efficiency is only 10 to 20%.

CFL are 400% more energy efficient than standard incandescent lamps.

Change only those that you have on most of the time or those that don't need new fixtures. The quality of CFL has also gone up. Some don't take long to reach optimum light output. I haven't heard one "hummer" yet. And they are getting smaller too.

I like them. Especially on bargain "family packs". And they are not fire-hazards like halogen. (Those things get super hot).

Bethbird is right about the mercury. Don't throw in in the trash when they burn out or is accidentally broken. Most cities have fluorescent lamp recyling.

The Slate article is also correct about CFL reducing total mercury emissions from less coal being used to make electricity.

I like CFL's.  Can't wait for low cost LEDs.

Added 12 hours later:

I would keep the track lights halogen. That was an investment. Change them when they go out and need to be replaced. As for ceiling fans, I have CFLs on all of mine where my kids do their school work. They give much more light since the usual 40W incandescent casts only 500 lumens, wheras a 13W CFL will give about 800 lumens. You are right about the looks. It looked odd at first. I have gotten used to them. When I see them at friend's home, it now seems like the norm.

Answer 2

soft

Let me start off by saying we (my family and I) live 100% off of the grid and are completely self-sufficient with a 0% Carbon footprint. I believe this is the first step anyone can make “help the environment”. Once you convert your own life style to a greener more eco friendly route, you can start helping others.

Compact fluorescent light bulbs, right now, are more " eco-wise" then anything else most consumers can get a hold of (ie. incandescent) and currently save over 2000 times their own weight in greenhouse gases.

But since my house is completely on solar / wind and we REALLY need to watch usage, every light is fitted with s***w type (typical 110v lamp socket style) LED bulbs. They emit the same luminosity (typically 45) but at only 1watt rather then a 45w compact or 10w CFL. However they usually cost twice as much as CFLs which is twice as much (or more) as compacts. Still LEDs would be the way to go by far.

As for the second part of your question...

Mercury IS the lesser of the evils, without getting toooo elaborate discussing specifics (ie. which burns ozone faster, other layer's besides ozone, disposing locations, methods, wind conditions, etc), one needs less mercury gas then most others, to obtain the same luminosity in a vacuum because of mercury's longer agitated spectral wavelength. Mercury's wavelength is more blue which is a longer more "luminous" or brighter light to say sodium, which is a more light orange or shorter less bright (red being the shortest) wavelength. so you'd need more sodium or other, in the tube or more electricity to the tube, to create the same luminosity as mercury.

so mercury wins out only because the sheer volume needed is less then the others.

Hope this helped, feel free to contact me personally if you have any questions if you’d like assistance in making your first self sufficient steps, I’m willing to walk you step by step threw the process. I’ve written several how-to DIY guides available at  www agua-luna com on the subject. I also offer online and on-site workshops, seminars and internships to help others help the environment.

Dan Martin

Living 100% on Alternative & Author of How One Simple Yet Incredibly Powerful Resource Is Transforming The Lives of Regular People From All Over The World... Instantly Elevating Their Income & Lowering Their Debt, While Saving The Environment by Using FREE ENERGY... All With Just One Click of A Mouse...For more info Visit:  

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Answer 3

I agree with the first three answers. yes you should change everything.

Answer 4

First of all, the guy who says he has a 0 carbon footprint is not too intelligent.  Was his computer produced in plant powered by solar panels and were its components mined with solar-powered equipment?  Was the computer shipped to the store or his house on a non-fossil fuel vehicle?

Anyway, I just wanted to say don't buy GE bulbs.  GE is one of the biggest green-washing loads of c**p ever.  They were responsible for shutting out the greenest candidate in the presidential race and they, along with their cronies, were responsible for his eventual withdrawal since he wasn't allowed in any of the major debates (and the ones he was in, he got no time to speak).  Not to mention that GE builds parts for nuclear power plants.

Check this out (go to Wikipedia to see the sources):

In May 2005 GE announced the launch of a program called "Ecomagination," intended, in the words of CEO Jeffrey Immelt "“to develop tomorrow’s solutions such as solar energy, hybrid locomotives, fuel cells, lower-emission aircraft engines, lighter and stronger durable materials, efficient lighting, and water purification technology,”[20] prompting the The New York Times to observe that, "while General Electric's increased emphasis on clean technology will probably result in improved products and benefit its bottom line, Mr. Immelt's credibility as a spokesman on national environmental policy is fatally flawed because of his company's intransigence in cleaning up its own toxic legacy."[21]

Answer 5

I have both.  CFL bulbs take less energy for light output.  The light is not as hot and bright.  Halogens can get warm.  I have one that will burn me easily.  The drawbacks of CFLS are that they do contain mercury and if they break, you should take care how you clean them up.  Use gloves and a plastic bag.  It is similar to the old fashioned thermometers.  They do not burn out easily.  They do tend to show light poorly in cold areas until they warm up slightly. I live in the cold N.E USA.

When it is 20 degrees, it takes about 5 minutes to brighten up although it show light , just not brightly until then.  I hope this helps.  GE has more information.