Time for a change: environmental light bulbs

If you ask for explanations for starting to use the environmental light bulbs instead of the traditional ones, you usually get two answers: the new type of light bulbs is 1) Earth-friendly and 2) pocket-friendly at the same time. The environmental bulbs don’t have to be changed as often as the traditional ones, because they last up to ten times longer than the traditional bulbs. They also produce less warmth, which means you can save even more money on air conditioning (valid mostly for bigger office spaces). Besides, one traditional light bulb needs as much energy as three environmental ones. This is both Earth and pocket friendly as well.

Except for running a Toronto real estate agency, I’m always looking for quick and easy tips to make my lifestyle a bit more Earth-friendly. The range of environmental light bulbs in the stores is very rich, and if you are not an experienced buyer, you might get a little confused while standing in front of the shelves. In the next paragraphs, we will present the most important tips to help you choose the right bulb for you.

The perfect light bulb for you

If you are not certain about the right type of bulb you need, the best idea would be to bring your packaging.

The perfect spot for your new bulb

Think about the place where you are going to use the new bulb - if it is too hot with no or little air circulation, the environmental bulb won’t be a good choice here (for example in recessed ceiling fixtures). The environmental bulb is not lit up instantly as the traditional one. It usually takes something between one and three minutes for it to give proper light, so it may be destroyed if it is lit up and then turned off again in a short time. So the environmental bulbs are best to be used in rooms where the light usually stays on for at least 15 minutes, otherwise the bulb could get damaged too early.

The right light

Fluorescent light bulbs should be recycled at all times. Among other materials, environmental bulbs are made of mercury, which is a dangerous heavy-metal. If you break a light bulb in your home, the mercury cannot be vacuumed. It is also dangerous to touch the mercury with bare hands. It’s better to clean the larger bits with a piece of cardboard. Smaller pieces can be rid of with a scotch tape. Then mop the whole area with a wet cloth and open the window for at least 15 minutes to make sure the air ventilates properly and you don’t breath in the mercury vapours.