In the contemporary life two major and related problems plague us all. From the world of big business and corporate industry right down to the public consumer and average family household these problems persist. These two problems frustrate capitalists and environmentalists, conservatives and liberals alike, as they affect finance and the environment, bank balances and co2 emissions. These two problems are of course, the current global economic crisis and global warming. Because of these issues everybody is looking for ways to a) save money and b) cut down on co2 emissions (the single biggest contributing factor to global warming) and protect the environment. There is no current magic solution to these problems, but there are ways in which we can all do our bit and there are devices that can save us money whilst helping us to cut back on our emissions. The low energy light bulb is just such a device.
Low energy light bulbs can replace incandescent bulbs instantly as they fit into the same lighting fixtures and require no additional fittings to be installed. Because low energy light bulbs use less energy it means not only do they emit less carbon dioxide, helping to improve on the current environmental problem, but they also save the consumer money. With the real cost of gas and electric rising all the time energy saving light bulbs should be the consumers starting point for cutting back on expenditure. Although low energy bulbs cost more than incandescent bulbs, the extended lifetime and lower energy use will more than compensate for the higher initial cost. Low energy bulbs can save approximately twenty pounds in electricity costs over the course of a year. The average rated life of a these bulbs is between 8 and 15 times that of an incandescent bulb. Incandescent bulbs reach full brightness a fraction of a second after being switched on. As of 2009, low energy bulbs also turn on within a second, but may still take time to warm up to full brightness. Some bulbs are marketed as “instant on” and have no noticeable warm-up period, but others can take up to a minute to reach full brightness or longer in very cold temperatures.