Satco Products Compact Fluorescent Lamps Compact Fluorescent Basics, Fighting Fluorescent Phobia

Compact Fluorescent Basics

Fighting Fluorescent Phobia

The biggest misconception that still stigmatizes fluorescent light sources pertains to their color rendering. Many consumers still associate fluorescent with having an unflattering green cast. They are probably thinking of products they’ve seen at the cool end of the spectrum, or fluorescent lighting in institutional settings. You can combat these negative associations from fluorescent’s aesthetically impaired past by educating your customers about lamp color and color rendering.

The Color Rendering Index (CRI) is a rating scale up to 100 that rates a light source’s

Light Bulb Anatomy

FLUORESCENT

How it works: Fluorescent lamps are phosphorous- coated tubes filled with a low-pressure mercury vapor. Light is produced by passing an electric arc between tungsten cathodes at opposite ends of the tube. This causes the mercury vapor to generate a radiant energy.

ability to accurately convey true color. Light sources with a low CRI will make objects and skin tones appear washed out and dull. Lamps with high CRI ratings bring life to a subject and make colors more vivid. Many CFLs have CRI ratings that exceed 80, which is considered excellent.

Lamp color, on the other hand, is based on a color temperature scale with a measurement called Kelvin. A warm color of light would be in the 2000K to 3000K range and would make reds, oranges and yellows more dominant. Light sources with a color temperature in the 4000K range would feature more blue or cool tones. The variety of color temperature options and CRI ratings for fluorescent light sources have improved dramatically thanks to advances in the types of phosphors used. So now your customers can see themselves in their best light without sacrificing energy savings.

Tri-Phosphor Coating This mixture converts ultraviolet light into visible light with superior color rendition and a high efficacy averaging 60 lumens per watt.

Electronic

Ballast

These high-tech devices enable the lamp to light up immediately with no flickering or noise. Solid-state circuitry allows for three-way, dimmable and photocell models.

Compact

Fluorescent

Tube

An alternative to traditional linear tubes, these smaller-tubes have been configured into new shapes to reduce their size and increase their light output.

Color	Warm	Neutral	Cool	Daylight
Temp
Kelvin	3000K	3500K	4100K	5000K
Range
Effect	Warm &	Inviting &	Clean&	Bright &
& Mood	Friendly	Comfortable	Organized	Alert
Application Homes &		Showrooms	Office &	Galleries
	Restaurants	& Reception	Hospitals	& Jewelry
		Offices		Diplay

What Is Energy Star?

Celebrating its 10th anniversary this year, Energy Star ® is a government- backed symbol for energy efficiency, jointly managed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Department of Energy

(DOE). The label was created to help consumers easily identify products that save energy and help to protect the environment.

Energy Star manufacturer partners may place the label on products that meet the high energy efficiency guidelines of the program. To keep up with technological advances, Energy Star reviews the guidelines for each product category and tightens them as necessary to ensure that, generally, only the top 25 percent of products in each category can earn the label.