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Florescent bulbs use about 1/4 the electricity of
incandescent bulbs. They last about 10 to 13 times longer than
regular bulbs. They also generate a lot less heat, so they reduce
the need for air conditioning in the summer. They contain small
amounts of mercury so they shouldn't be disposed of with your
regular trash. You can find a place to dispose of florescent bulbs
here:
Ikea
stores now accept used fluorescent bulbs for recycling. You can find
locations
here.
Even
though fluorescents contain mercury, they put less mercury
into the environment. That's because coal burning power plants emit
mercury into the atmosphere. And since incandescent bulbs use so
much more electricity, incandescents are worse in terms of mercury.
Still, you want to dispose of fluorescent bulbs properly.
Full spectrum lighting is more like sunlight in color. These
bulbs tend to create a sense of well being and be very important for
people with seasonal affective disorder (SAD). More and more doctors
offices and public buildings use these types of bulb. They are
available as screw in bulbs and fluorescent tubes. this is a
relatively new trend as a mass market product, so you'll find
quality varies. Don't buy the first full spectrum bulb you find, but
look for one that's good quality and will keep it's color balance
over the life of the bulb.
High pressure sodium lighting is energy efficient and is
primarily intended for outdoor use. The color output of these lights
is really best used for security lighting.
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