CFL bulbs instead of solar

Opt for enough bulb
One of the biggest complaints made by new CFL users is that the light “looks dingy.” How could this be, given that CFLs produce the same amount of lumens (light energy) as their incandescent equivalents?

led CFL instead solar

There are two reasons. Suppose you’re accustomed to a 100-watt incandescent bulb in that table lamp by the couch. A traditional bulb of this type produces about 1200 lumens.
CFLs of 20 to 25 watts will do the same. But there’s a catch: the lamp fixture is designed for a traditional bulb. CFLs and incandescent radiate differently. So while they’re producing an equal number of lumens, the CFL may not be delivering the same amount of light to a given workspace.
Here, experimentation is important. In some cases, it might be a better idea to replace a 100-watt incandescent with a CFL that’s roughly equivalent to a traditional 125-watt bulb (about 1600 lumens). You’ll take a 5-watt penalty, but that beats squinting at the newspaper.
Consider CFL-specific fixtures
The second factor which governs how well your CFL throws its lumes around is fixture design. The current generation of CFLs are what designers call a “transitional technology.” They contain their own ballasts, and are intended to screw into the same sort of light fixtures we’ve been using for over 120 years. This arrangement is something of a compromise.
Light fixtures designed for CFLs take into consideration their particular radiation properties. They also have their own ballasts, which means their bulbs can be much simpler. They plug into their fixtures with a two- or four-pronged base.
Pronged CFL bulbs won’t work in incandescent fixtures, but their simplicity will eventually make them much cheaper and easier to recycle than screw- in CFLs.
You might not have the luxury of replacing your ceiling-mounted fixtures, but keep an eye out for CFL-specific table and desk lamps. When it makes sense, retire incandescent fixtures and enjoy the improved efficiency of true CFL lighting.
Properly dispose of worn-out or broken CFLs

bulb ban in Europe starting 2012

Few people know CFLs contain mercury, albeit a tiny amount, to function…something like 5 milligrams per bulb. Mercury is poisonous, and since it tends to accumulate in the human body, there’s no acceptable level of exposure. And with increased consumer use the need for proper disposal increases as well. We don’t want them ending up in a landfill. By 2010, the Baja Mexico Peninsula could be looking at 10 million improperly disposed CFLs annually if people don’t know any better and convenient recycling isn’t available.
An intact CFL will never emit mercury. But CFLs can be broken through accident or improper disposal. That makes it important to dispose of spent or damaged CFLs in a responsible manner.
The best solution is recycling. Some CFL sellers in the States, such as Ikea, have a no-questions take- back program. Home Depot has become the largest U.S. retailer to launch a general CFL recycling program. So maybe they will continue their program here in Baja. Since we are able to buy these bulbs locally now, we should encourage our vendors to start recycling them. Retailers need to know their customers want safe disposal of the goods they
purchase. Convenient CFL recycling is clearly an area requiring improvement as adoption increases.

Many states require CFLs to be treated as hazardous waste, and this is good practice for everyone. Do not dispose of CFLs with household garbage. Our Baja communities do not have curbside pickup of hazardous material yet, so you’ll need to bag and safely store old CFLs until we have a drop off center or pickup service. Simply store expended CFLs in a five gallon PVC bucket with sealable top. It should safely contain a couple dozen bulbs. A sturdy cardboard box lined with a heavy plastic garbage bag should also do the trick. Just place your CFL storage container out of harm’s way so it won’t be dropped, crushed, or otherwise disturbed.
There’s no need to panic if you break a CFL. Most bulbs are damaged when they’re cold, and the mercury is likely to adhere to the bulb’s debris. To be safe, ventilate the area. Use rubber or latex cloves to carefully gather up the ballast and broken glass with disposable paper towels. Wipe the floor carefully with more paper toweling, then double bag everything in Ziploc bags. Dispose as hazardous waste.
As a point of interest, CFLs can actually reduce the amount of mercury released each year into the environment. Half of the power in the United States is generated by coal-fired plants. Burning coal releases mercury into the atmosphere – about 10 milligrams over the life of an average incandescent bulb. Because of its superior efficiency, a CFL will only be responsible for about 2.5 milligrams. Even if you add the 4 milligrams contained in the typical CFL (which is fully recoverable by recycling), a CFL is actually responsible for putting less mercury into the wild than its incandescent equivalent.

Choose ENERGY STAR® products that are widely for sale in San Diego and Baja California Mexico. Go solar right after that.
Buy ENERGY STAR® certified table lamps and light fixtures, and replace your incandescent light bulbs that are used more than two hours per day with ENERGY STAR® compact fluorescent bulbs. For example, install compact fluorescent bulbs in your porch light if you leave it on overnight. (Savings: for each bulb you’ll save 0.2 percent for each hour the bulb operates on a typical day. Therefore, replacing an incandescent bulb that burns 10 hours per day will save 2 percent)