Fluorescent Lighting

Fluorescent lighting is very commonly used in commercial and industrial applications. The energy efficiency and relative affordability of fluorescent lighting fixtures has made it a staple of offices, hospitals and educational facilities. And in recent years, compact fluorescent lighting is now being used as an energy-saving alternative to incandescent lamps in residential applications.

Fluorescent bulbs are gas discharge lamps that use electricity to excite mercury vapor within the lamp. The excited mercury atoms produce short-wave ultraviolet light that then causes phosphor to glow producing visible light. The mercury can be dangerous if the lamp is broken so one of the drawbacks to fluorescent lighting is the disposal.

The power fluctuations caused by the short-wave ultraviolet light can vary so fluorescent lamps always require a ballast to regulate the flow of power through the lamp. Ballasts are rated for the size of lamp and power frequency. Every fluorescent light specified on electrical engineering drawings requires a ballast so this must be considered when designing in areas where there are limitations in ceiling space.

Fluorescent lamps are most commonly compared to incancescent bulbs because they have long been used for the same applications. Compared with incandescent lamps, fluorescent lamps use less power for the same amount of light, generally last longer, but are bulkier, more complex, contain trace amounts of mercury, and initially more expensive than a comparable incandescent lamp.

From a design stand point though, fluorescents can be used at both 120v and 277v whereas incandescents can only be used at 120v. Although incandescents can be dimmed, a fluorescent lamp requires a dimmable ballast which could double the price of the fixture. So there are advantages and disadvantages to using each.

Regarding energy efficiency though, fluorescent bulbs win hands down. A common 60watt incandescent can be substituted by using a 14watt compact fluorescent bulb. That’s an energy savings of 77%! When you consider that energy bills are tabulated based on the kilowatts used per month by a company or residence, the energy savings will translate into cost savings over time. Though a fluorescent bulb may cost more upfront, the savings will pay off over time.

Below are samples of the most commonly used fluorescent bulbs:

Here are some of the most common fluorescent lighting fixtures:

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