Energy Conservation Myths
Leaving a light on uses less energy than turning it off and on several times. Truth: Leaving an incandescent or fluorescent lamp on uses more energy than turning it on and off as needed. Tips:
• Get into the habit of turning off lights when you leave a room.
• Use natural day lighting when possible and reduce or eliminate artificial lighting. Day lighting has been proven to have many benefits.
• Use compact fluorescent lights instead of incandescent bulbs whenever you can. Compact fluorescents are 3-4 times more efficient than incandescent and last 10 times as long.
Myth #1 Additional Information: When fluorescent lights first came into use in the 1950s, people developed the habit of leaving the lights on. Like many myths, this one has lived well past its useful life. As a general rule, you should turn off the lights whenever you leave a room. It's just a good habit to develop. Turning off the lights reduces operating costs in two ways: it saves energy and reduces the number of lamp replacements. But doesn't it take more energy to start up the light than it does to run the lamp for several minutes? No. It is true that fluorescent lamps draw an inrush current that is five times greater than the operating current. However, the initial surge of a rapid start lamp lasts for only 1/120th of a second. So, you have to turn the lamp off for only one second to save the same amount of energy used to start it up again. But, doesn't the starting cathode erode each time the lamp is started? Yes. Cathode erosion is one factor that limits lamp life. While turning off the lights reduces the number of hours the lamp will burn, it extends the time between lamp replacements. For example, a standard rapid-start fluorescent lamp operating continuously will burn for 38,000 hours or 4.3 years. If the same lamp burns only 12 hours per day, the number of operating hours drops to 30,000. However, the lamp will remain in service for 6.8 years. So, you cut operating energy in half and reduce lamp replacement costs by 30 percent. It's not necessary to go through elaborate calculations each time you leave a room. As general rule of thumb, it's always better to turn off the light, even if you'll be gone only a minute or two. Make a habit of turning off the lights every time you leave. Forty years ago, leaving the lights burning continuously may have been the best thing to
do. However, a few things have changed since then. Fluorescent lamps are more durable, energy is several times more expensive, and fluorescents are used in more locations than ever before. If you want to save money on energy and lamp replacement, turn it off!
• Use natural day lighting when possible and reduce or eliminate artificial lighting. Day lighting has been proven to have many benefits.
• Use compact fluorescent lights instead of incandescent bulbs whenever you can. Compact fluorescents are 3-4 times more efficient than incandescent and last 10 times as long.
Myth #1 Additional Information: When fluorescent lights first came into use in the 1950s, people developed the habit of leaving the lights on. Like many myths, this one has lived well past its useful life. As a general rule, you should turn off the lights whenever you leave a room. It's just a good habit to develop. Turning off the lights reduces operating costs in two ways: it saves energy and reduces the number of lamp replacements. But doesn't it take more energy to start up the light than it does to run the lamp for several minutes? No. It is true that fluorescent lamps draw an inrush current that is five times greater than the operating current. However, the initial surge of a rapid start lamp lasts for only 1/120th of a second. So, you have to turn the lamp off for only one second to save the same amount of energy used to start it up again. But, doesn't the starting cathode erode each time the lamp is started? Yes. Cathode erosion is one factor that limits lamp life. While turning off the lights reduces the number of hours the lamp will burn, it extends the time between lamp replacements. For example, a standard rapid-start fluorescent lamp operating continuously will burn for 38,000 hours or 4.3 years. If the same lamp burns only 12 hours per day, the number of operating hours drops to 30,000. However, the lamp will remain in service for 6.8 years. So, you cut operating energy in half and reduce lamp replacement costs by 30 percent. It's not necessary to go through elaborate calculations each time you leave a room. As general rule of thumb, it's always better to turn off the light, even if you'll be gone only a minute or two. Make a habit of turning off the lights every time you leave. Forty years ago, leaving the lights burning continuously may have been the best thing to
do. However, a few things have changed since then. Fluorescent lamps are more durable, energy is several times more expensive, and fluorescents are used in more locations than ever before. If you want to save money on energy and lamp replacement, turn it off!
