Incandescent light bulbs work by heating a tungsten filament, or wire, until it glows. This is what produces the light you see. Unfortunately, 90% of the energy used to generate that light is wasted as heat, making incandescent bulbs a very inefficient way to light your home. CFLs, on the other hand, create a chemical reaction among gasses located inside the glass tube, causing phosphors to illuminate. Emerald Planet CFLs provide bright, warm light and use 80% less energy, produce 80% less heat, and lasts up to 15 times longer.

There are a handful of differences between the coil or "spiral" CFLs and the CFLs that resemble a traditional lightbulb (A-line shape). The first difference is the amount of light each will produce. Most times, a CFL that looks like an incandescent light bulb is really the "coil" shaped CFL with a plastic or glass cover. This cover will slightly reduce the amount of light that is produced. If you compared a 14W bare spiral CFL and a 14W "incandescent" shaped CFL, the bare product will provide more light for the same wattage. Also, bare CFLs usually have longer lifetimes than covered products.

Second, most bare spiral CFL products will perform like incandescent light bulbs - they will turn on instantly and provide full brightness. Covered CFLs may take slightly longer to reach full brightness.

The last difference is the price - covered CFLs generally cost slightly more than bare spiral because of the additional materials required to manufacturer the products.

Finding an Emerald Planet CFLs that will put out the same amount of light as your current incandescent bulb is easy. Emerald Planet includes product equivalency information on the packaging to help you choose a bulb that produces enough light. For example, if you are looking for an light bulb to replace your 60-watt incandescent, look for words like "60 Watt Replacement" on the packaging.
You can also refer to the chart below to as a guide for selecting the right bulb. A watt is actually a measure of power consumption. When purchasing a light bulb, what you are really after is light output, which is measured in lumens. When you purchase a 60-watt incandescent bulb, you are getting about 660 lumens.
By selecting an 13-watt Emerald Planet CFL instead, you can still get 740 lumens, but it requires much less power.

Emerald Planet CFLs are different than other CFLs on the market because they have been tested to meet stringent performance criteria established by the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA). The criteria ensure that all CFLs meet minimum lifetime and efficacy requirements, and are within maximum allowed product start and warm-up times. Manufacturers are also required to label the product if the light output is different than that of a soft white incandescent.

Emerald Planet CFLs can be used both horizontally and vertically. The operating position of a CFL can affect how well the lamp performs, which can affect the product’s lumen output. However, while the exact light output may differ slightly between the lumen rating stated on the packaging and the light output based on the installed position, the difference generally is so small that it would be unnoticeable.
Emerald Planet CFLs are tested in both the base-down and base-up positions, which are the two most extreme positions within the range of possible installation options. Emerald Planet only lists the lower of the base-up and base-down lumen output ratings.

Even when turned on and off frequently, a CFL uses less energy than its incandescent equivalent. While there is a brief surge in energy use when a CFL is turned on, with today's starting technology, that surge usually lasts about a tenth of a second and consumes about as much energy as five seconds of normal operation.
However, turning a CFL on and off more frequently will also shorten its life. Because of this, and because CFLs are more expensive than incandescents, we generally recommend that consumers use CFLs in applications where they are on for at least fifteen minutes. This is where CFLs have the biggest impact and make the most sense economically.

CFLs contain a very small amount of mercury sealed within the glass tubing - an average of less than 4 milligrams - about the amount that would cover the tip of a ballpoint pen. By comparison, older thermometers contain about 500 milligrams of mercury - an amount equal to the mercury in 125 CFLs. Mercury is an essential part of CFLs; it allows the bulb to be an efficient light source. No mercury is released when the bulbs are intact (not broken) or in use.



Because CFLs contain mercury, they should be disposed of properly. Follow proper clean-up recommendations if a CFL breaks in your home.

Mercury is an element (Hg on the periodic table) found naturally in the environment. Mercury emissions in the air can come from both natural and man-made sources. Utility power plants (mainly coal-fired) are the largest man-made source, because mercury that naturally exists in coal is released into the air when coal is burned to make electricity. The use of energy-efficient compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) reduces power demand, which helps reduce  mercury emissions from coal-fired power plants.

The short answer is yes, any bulb that does not exceed the fixture rating can be used.
The longer explanation... The watt rating on the fixture is a description of how much electricity the internal wiring of the fixture can accept safely. A watt is a measure of power consumption. As long as you do not exceed the recommended wattage for a particular fixture, you can use any CFL wattage up to the limit. For example, if a light fixture is rated for 75 watts of power, you can use any light bulb with a rated wattage of 75 or less. While you could use a 75-watt equivalent CFL, if you want more light in this fixture, then you could use a 100-watt equivalent CFL. Most 100-watt equivalent CFLs use between 23 and 30 watts of power, much less than the 75-watt rating of the fixture. That's the great thing about Emerald Planet CFL's you get more light for less power!

CFLs contain a very small amount of mercury sealed within the glass tubing-an average of 3 milligrams-about the amount that would cover the tip of a ballpoint pen. By comparison, older thermometers contain about 500 milligrams of mercury -an amount equal to the mercury in 125 CFLs. Mercury is an essential part of CFLs; it allows the bulb to be an efficient light source. No mercury is released when the bulbs are intact or in use.
Switching from traditional light bulbs (called incandescent) to CFLs is an effective, simple change everyone in Australia can make right now. Making this change will help to use less electricity at home and prevent greenhouse gas emissions that lead to global warming.
Lighting accounts for close to 20% of the average home's electric bill. Emerald Planet CFLs use up to 80% less energy (electricity) than incandescent light bulbs, last up to 15 times longer, cost little up front, and provide a quick return on investment.

As long as the glass tube remains intact, no mercury is released from a CFL when it reaches its end of life. In some rare cases, when a fluorescent bulb reaches it end of useful life, the arc contained in the tube may elevate the temperature of the housing plastic near one end of the tube. This elevated temperature, although it is short lived, may produce some limited smoke and odor from the plastic housing or coatings. Although the odor may have a bad smell it is not harmful - it's just the burnt plastic. The smoke does not contain any mercury as long as the glass tube remains intact.

Most electronic controls such as electronic timers, photo sensors, motion sensors, touch lamps, and remote light controls are designed to work with the simple technology of an incandescent rather than the complex circuitry of a CFL. Electronic controls draw a small amount of electricity to operate that would concurrently run a small amount of electricity through the CFL ballast, placing stress on the electronics. Since CFL ballasts are designed for a specific input voltage and are not designed to handle deviations, imposing them can cause the circuitry to malfunction or not be able to effectively light the lamp or keep the current through the lamp well regulated. The result is that operating CFLs on controls can significantly shorten the lifespan of the product, though it should not pose a fire hazard.
It is possible for electronic controls to be designed to work with fluorescent technology, so check with the manufacturer of the electronic control device for compatibility.
Note that CFLs can be used with mechanical timers (those that do not use electricity to operate) without adversely affecting the performance, dimmer switches can also cause problems in CFLs for similar reason.

You can use Emerald Planet CFLs in bathrooms; however, high humidity can shorten the life of CFLs. To avoid moisture problems generally, control humidity in your bathroom by running your ventilating fan during and 15 minutes after showers and baths.

In principle, if you NEVER dim the light, a CFL should work appropriately. However, because of the risk of users dimming the switch even accidentally, this is not something we recommend. Additionally, using a CFL on a dimming switch will likely void the product warranty even if the switch is never dimmed.

In this instance, using CFLs in your house would actually be preferable to using incandescent bulbs, since CFLs are cooler than ordinary light bulbs, and draw less electrical current, they are perfectly fine to use with older 60-degree C wiring. "60-degree C" refers to the temperature (in Celsius) up to which the insulation around your household wiring will protect the wire safely. If the temperature exceeds that, the insulation becomes brittle and there is a danger of electrical shorts and fire. Around light fixtures, this can be an issue since incandescent light bulbs generate a lot of heat. It’s also an issue if a circuit in your house is overloaded, since drawing an excess of electricity will cause the wire itself to heat up.

Warning! If the wiring has already been exposed to excessive temperatures or electrical currents, the insulation is already damaged! While CFLs do nothing to harm the wire if it is still intact, they cannot undo damage that has already occurred. If the insulation around your wiring has already failed, it should be replaced.

Electricity use is the main source of mercury emissions in Australia. CFLs use less electricity than incandescent lights, meaning CFLs reduce the amount of mercury into the environment. A 13-watt, 8,000-rated-hour-life CFL (60-watt equivalent; a common light bulb type) will save 376 kWh over its lifetime, thus avoiding 4.5 mg of mercury. If the bulb goes to a landfill, overall emissions savings would drop a little, to 4.2 mg. It is recommended that CFLs are recycled where possible, to maximize mercury savings.

CFLs that are not designed for totally enclosed fixtures will typically carry a disclaimer that indicates that they are not intended for this type of application. Because totally enclosed fixtures do not allow air to circulate around the lamp, it causes heat to build up, which can lead to performance issues.

Though CFLs do not produce nearly as much heat as incandescents, they are more sensitive to heat, which can effect their performance. Some of the components in a CFL cannot withstand high heat, unless specifically engineered to do so. The excess heat that is created in a totally enclosed fixture can cause the light output to be diminished, the bulb to appear to "dim" more quickly than CFLs used in applications that allow airflow, and a shorter bulb lifetime. The most effective way at this time to ensure that the particular product you are interested in purchasing is designed to withstand high-heat applications, is to check the packaging or contact the manufacturer directly.

Turning a CFL on and off frequently can shorten its life. However, because of the vast diversity of products and different usages, it is difficult to determine exactly how much. Emerald Planet CFLs endure rapid cycling for over 7500 times to ensure that the products can hold up to frequent switching.
To take full advantage of the energy savings and long life of Emerald Planet CFLs, it is best to use them in light fixtures you use the most and are on for at least 15 minutes at a time. Good locations include outdoor light fixtures, indoor fixtures in the living room, family room, kitchen, bedroom, recreation room, etc. This is not to say you should leave your lights on all day if you use Emerald Planet CFLs. It is still a good habit to turn the lights off when you leave the room for an extended period of time.
You may also have heard that CFLs use a lot of energy when turning on and off. While there is a brief surge in energy use when a CFL is turned on, with today's starting technology, that surge usually lasts about a tenth of a second and consumes about as much energy as five seconds of normal operation. So, even when turned on and off frequently, a CFL uses less energy than its incandescent equivalent. But because turning a CFL on and off more frequently can shorten its life and CFLs are more expensive than incandescents, we recommend consumers use CFLs in applications where they are on for at least fifteen minutes.

Compact Fluorescent Light bulbs (CFLs) are made of glass and can break if dropped or roughly handled. Be careful when removing the bulb from its packaging, installing it, or replacing it. Always screw and unscrew the lamp by its base (not the glass), and never forcefully twist the CFL into a light socket. Because CFLs contain a small amount of mercury, follow our clean-up recommendations if a CFL breaks in your home. Used CFLs should be disposed of properly.

Because CFLs contain a small amount of mercury, Emerald Planet recommends that you follow the Emerald Planets Clean Up and Disposal Guidlines.

Don’t panic, CFLs contain a very, very small amount of mercury sealed within the glass tubing – on average of less than 3 milligrams. By comparison, older thermometers contain about 500 milligrams of mercury.

If the CFL broke recently, review our clean up guidelines to see if there are any reasonable actions that you could take today. For example, if you vacuumed up the debris and you haven’t yet changed and disposed of your vacuum bag, then do that.

The clean up guidelines on our website are conservative, because they are based on the few scientific studies available to date. These studies are based on chronic (long-term) exposure to mercury vapors (exposure to mercury on a regular basis in your job). There are on going studies to quantify the exposure levels from a broken CFL in the home and we will update our clean up guidelines as more information becomes available.

If you are still concerned about your exposure to mercury, you should consult your physician.

Regular fluorescent light bulbs used in your home and office, including CFLs, do not produce a hazardous amount of ultraviolet light (UV). Ultraviolet light rays are the light wavelengths that can cause sunburn and skin damage. Most light sources, including fluorescent bulbs, emit a small amount of UV light, but the UV light produced by fluorescent light bulbs is far less than the amount produced by natural daylight. The amount of UV given off by regular fluorescent light bulbs used in your home and office are not hazardous. A recent report from E Source indicates a level of UV radiation from CFLs at a range of 50-140 microwatts/lumen. In comparison, this report also sites that some incandescent products have been found to have UV levels exceeding 100 microwatts/ lumen.

Similar to linear fluorescent lighting and other electronics, it is possible for CFLs to cause electromagnetic interference (EMI). Electromagnetic interference is regulated by the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA), and Emerald Planet CFL's comply to these requirements.

Unfortunately, there have been some instances of CFL's smoking or smoldering. While this usually occurs when the product is defective or installed improperly, it is nonetheless a concern to consumers and the government. The latest Emerald Planet CFL's incorporate end-of-life requirements and higher safety standards. Emerald Planet qualified CFL's currently meet UL safety standards, which require the materials to be self-extinguishing. So, although the base or glass tubing may darken, an Emerald Planet CFL should never catch on fire. Emerald Planet recommends that you install and remove CFL's by grasping the plastic portions of the base only. If the CFL is screwed into a light socket by twisting the tube rather than the plastic base, it can cause the vacuum seal or glass tubing in the CFL to break. Once certain parts are exposed to oxygen, they are more liable to become defective and/or overheat.
In some cases, when a fluorescent tube reaches it end of useful life, the arc contained in the tube may elevate the temperature of the housing plastic near one end of the tube. This elevated temperature, although it is short lived, may produce some limited smoke and odor. In some cases a flashing arc internal to the fluorescent tube or ballast may occur and in some extreme cases, a deformation, significant distortion, or small breach of the plastic material may happen. Again, the materials and evaluation tests are designed to prevent subsequent safety hazard.
If you have a product that does begin to smoke or smolder, immediately shut off the power to the CFL and, once it has cooled, remove it from the light socket.

Yes! there are a wide variety of Emerald Planet CFLs that are designed for use in most fixtures in your home, including recessed cans, outdoor lights, and track lighting.

By choosing an Emerald Planet CFLs, you are assured that it will turn on in less than a second and reach at least 80% of full light output within 1 minute, with other brands of CFLs both the startup and warm up time could be much longer.

Emerald Planet CFL products use a compound called amalgam to perform properly. This compound actually increases the bulb life and the light output! The one tradeoff is that these CFLs cannot offer "instant full brightness" The CFL will turn on, but may take up to 1 minute to warm-up to reach 80% light output.

Replacing incandescent bulbs with Emerald Planet CFLs right away, rather than waiting until they burn out is beneficial because you can begin to enjoy the energy savings right away. By replacing your home’s five most frequently used light fixtures or the bulbs in them with Emerald Planet CFLs can save you more than $132 each year.
Emerald Planet CFLs use 80% less energy while providing the same amount of light.