Can I replace incandescent
lights with CFLs?
CFLs are available to fit most
of the common household light
fittings but not all. New CFLs
are being developed and tested
for other lighting applications
and will gradually become
available.
Some special-purpose
incandescent lights cannot be
replaced with CFLs and are
therefore likely to be exempt
from the phase out process for
some time. These include
recessed low voltage (12 volt)
downlights, chandeliers, heating
lamps, bathroom lights, lamps in
whitegoods, and medical and
theatre lights.
Q2
Can I replace my incandescent lights
with LEDs?
LED technology is very new and
still under development. They
are currently unavailable for
most lighting situations because
their quality is not yet of a
high enough standard. Beacon
Lighting expects that an
increasing range of LEDs will
become available in six to
twelve months and over time the
high cost of LEDs will fall. For
up-to-date information on the
latest LED technologies
available speak with the
customer service team at Beacon
Lighting.
Q3
Can low voltage halogen
downlights be replaced with CFLs?
Low voltage halogen downlights
are the most common globe used
in Australia today. They are
connected directly to
transformers and can not be
retrofitted with a CFL
equivalent. To replace low
voltage halogen downlights with
CFLs you will require an
electrician to remove the
transformers and install new
lamp holders.
Q4
Are low voltage halogen downlights
energy efficient?
No. Low voltage halogen
downlights are also a type of
incandescent lamp. Each one
generates a kilogram of
greenhouse gas every 15 hours
which is about the same as a 60
watt incandescent globe.
Q5
Do I need to rewire my house to
accommodate CFLs?
Incandescent lamps can be
directly replaced with CFLs,
however replacement of low
voltage halogen downlights
requires the services of an
electrician.
Q6
Are CFL’s compatible with my current
light fittings and what base connections
do they come in?
In most cases you will be able
to directly replace all globes
throughout your home with CFLs,
they do come in a wide range of
base types including SBC (B15),
SES (E14), ES (E27) and BC
(B22), they are also now
available in GU10 and GX53 to
replace 240 volt downlights and
spotlights. However, there is
currently no direct replacement
for the low voltage (12 volt)
downlight globe as a CFL, we
anticipate this will happen in
the short future and for now we
recommend using 35 watt IRC
lamps from a reputable brand.
The 35watt IRC will give you the
same amount of light as your
current 50 watt globe, and will
save 30% off your lighting
electricity costs. So it’s very
easy to make savings on
electricity and greenhouse gas
emissions today.
Q7
Do CFLs work with dimmer switches?
There are only a handful of CFLs
that currently work with a
standard dimmer however they are
becoming increasingly available
and more cost effective as new
technology is developed. New
products being released are both
dimmable using a standard light
switch or a dial dimmer. If you
have a dimmer switch, speak with
your Beacon Lighting customer
service representative about the
best low energy option
available.
Q8
Do CFLs work with movement sensors?
Yes, CFLs work well with
movement sensors and Beacon
Lighting is currently using
movement sensors with CFLs in
stores. Please note that it is
advisable to set your sensor
timing to a longer setting as
constant on/off switching will
reduce the life of a CFL.
Q9
Do CFLs work in ceiling fans?
Most existing ceiling fans use a
lineal halogen lamp. These can
not be retrofitted with CFLs and
are exempt from the initial
phase-out of incandescent bulbs.
However many new model ceiling
fans are fitted with energy
efficient CFLs. Just ask your
Beacon Lighting sales
representative for advice.
Q10
Do CFLs work with touch lamps?
No, existing touch lamps won’t
work with CFLs because they are
dimmable. However they are
becoming available as
manufacturers develop CFL
technology.
Q11
Can I replace candle lights with CFLs
in my chandelier?
Megaman has just released a
energy saving candle globe,
however due to the fact that it
is not readily available
throughout Australia the ban on
incandescent globes will not
affect the chandelier globe.
CFL Lighting Quality
Q12
Do CFL’s give as much light as
incandescent globes and halogen
downlights?
The general equation for
comparing the light output from
a CFL to incandescent globes is
to multiply the wattage of the
CFL by 5, this will give the
approximate equivalent in
incandescent light. I.e..8 watt
CFL = 40watt incandescent light
globe. This is the same when it
comes to CFL GU10 downlight
globes, this is equivalent to 55
watts of incandescent light. The
complication is that a 50 watt
halogen is actually equivalent
to 110 watts of incandescent
light, therefore a 11 watt GU10
will not be as bright as the
standard 50watt halogen globe.
Q13
Do CFLs come in a range of lighting
options?
CFLs are available in a range of
three colours: Bright Daylight
offers a strong, bright light
suited to home offices, Cool
White is suited to social
environments like lounge rooms,
and Warm White creates a more
intimate atmosphere for
bedrooms.
Q14
How do CFLs perform?
The flickering and slow starting
traditionally associated with
fluorescent lights has been
removed and new electronically
ballasted CFLs don’t flicker or
hum. There are now very high
standards that dictate the
product quality of CFLs that can
be sold in Australia.
Purchasing CFL Replacements
Q15
What do I look for when buying a
replacement CFL?
When buying replacement CFLs you
need to choose the light output
or wattage and lamp colour. If
you have a dimmer switch or are
unsure as to whether you can
retro fit an existing light
fitting with a CFL, your Beacon
Lighting customer service
representative can provide you
with expert advice.
Q16
What CFL wattage do I buy to replace
incandescent globes?
Because CFLs use less energy, a
lower wattage globe is required
for the same amount of light you
get from an incandescent lamp.
As a guide, the general equation
used to select the right light
output from a CFL replacement is
to multiply the CFL wattage by
5. For example, use an 8 watt
CFL to replace a 40 watt
incandescent globe.
Q17
What CFL lamp colour should I choose?
The following three lamp colour
options are available to suit
different lighting requirements:
• Warm White (2700K) for
bedrooms and other areas that
require a more intimate or
ambient atmosphere
• Cool White (4000K) for lounge
rooms, and other social
environments where a bright
light is unnecessary
• Bright Daylight (6500K) for
task areas in home offices and
work spaces that require a
brightness similar to the
outdoors
The higher the Kelvin (K) rating
the bluer the colour gets. Lower
Kelvin-rated CFLs have more
yellow and are similar to the
light colour of an incandescent
globe. The Kelvin rating only
refers to the colour of the
light emitted, not the
brightness, and different
colours should be used for
different situations as listed
above.
Q18
How long do CFLs last?
The life of a CFL
will vary greatly depending on
the quality and price of the
product. As a guide, a household
globe is expected to run for
approximately 1000 hours each
year. Therefore low cost 4000
hour CFLs will last up to four
years, mid priced products
ranging from 6000 to 8000 hour
lamps will last roughly six to
eight years, and the best
quality CFLs will last between
10000 and 15000 hours or ten to
15 years. The approximate years
are obviously dependant on the
frequency of use. Beacon
Lighting always suggests buying
a recognised brand to ensure
your light globe lasts the
stated hours.
Q19
What will it cost to replace my
incandescent bulbs with CFLs?
The upfront cost of purchasing
CFL bulbs is greater than
incandescent and halogen bulbs
however the running costs are
significantly lower. Government
estimates suggest households
will save up to 66% off their
lighting bills by converting to
low energy lighting.
The following table can be used
as a guide:
Environmental Issues
Q20
What greenhouse gas emissions
will I save by converting to CFLs?
During its lifetime, just one
CFL bulb has the capacity to
reduce greenhouse gas emissions
by as much as one tonne.
Q21
Does it take more energy to make
a CFL than an incandescent bulb?
CFLs do require a little more
energy to produce however they
require 80% less energy to run.
Therefore over the life of the
globe a CFL uses much less
energy than an incandescent
lamp.
Q22
Do incandescent light bulbs
contain mercury?
Incandescent light bulbs do not
contain mercury however their
use ultimately releases much
more mercury into the
environment throughout each
bulb’s lifetime when compared to
CFLs. This is because the
biggest source of mercury
pollution is coal-fired power
plants.
Burning coal to illuminate
incandescent lamps releases
about five times the mercury
into the environment compared to
burning the same coal to
illuminate CFLs. This is
significantly more than the
mercury contained in the CFL.
Ultimately, the net benefit of
using a low energy CFL is
positive, particularly if the
mercury in lamp is recycled and
kept out of landfills.
Q23
How much mercury is found in
CFLs?
CFLs contain trace amounts of
mercury, usually around 3 to 5
mg, with some ‘low-mercury’ CFLs
containing as little as 1.4 mg.
According to the Australian
government the maximum allowable
amount of mercury in a CFL is 15
mg.
5 mg is 100 times less than a
mercury thermometer or dental
filling and one fifth of that
found in a watch battery.
Q24
Is the mercury found in CFLs
dangerous?
The trace amounts of mercury
sealed within glass tubing in
CFLs is not dangerous to users
when the CFL is in tact or in
use because no mercury is
released.
However mercury is a toxic
substance therefore it’s
important that CFLs are handled
carefully and disposed of
responsibly.
Q25
What if I break a CFL?
If you break a CFL you can
release mercury into the
atmosphere. Gently sweep up the
glass fragments and use a damp
cloth to pick up fine particles.
If the breakage is on carpet,
use sticky tape then a damp
cloth to clean up the debris
prior to vacuuming. Place all
debris into a sealed plastic bag
for disposal and ventilate the
room where possible.
Q26
How should I dispose of CFLs?
In Australia there is no
legislation covering the
disposal of CFLs or other
electronic waste, therefore it
is legal to place them in your
household garbage bin.
However in landfills, the
mercury from crushed lamps can
escape and contribute to air and
water pollution. Therefore lamp
manufacturers are working with
governments to develop
sustainable solutions for
recycling CFLs.
Contact your local recycling and
waste depot for information on
CFL disposal alternatives in
your community. And please do
not contaminate your recyclable
waste with CFLs.
