Except for running a Toronto real estate agency, I’m always looking for ways to make my lifestyle a bit more Earth-friendly. When it comes to choosing which environmental light bulb to pick, you might get a bit confused by the wide selection in the shops. In the next paragraphs, we will present the most important points to help you choose the right bulb for you.

Mr. Bulb Right

These bulbs are made in all shapes and sizes so the best idea is to bring the traditional bulb you wish to change to the shop and match it with the available environmental bulbs. Be careful about the wattage – when replacing a traditional light bulb with the environmental one, you have to divide the wattage by four. So instead of a 60 watt traditional bulb, one 15 watt environmental bulb is sufficient. If you need a bulb for a dimmer light, make sure your new bulb works in these – it should be mentioned on the packaging.

The perfect spot for your new bulb

These environmental bulbs are not suitable for use in hot places with little air flow (recessed ceiling fixture). The bulb takes anything between one and three minutes to light up and doesn’t like to be turned on and off often. So the environmental bulbs are best to be used in rooms where the light usually stays on for at least 15 minutes, otherwise the bulb could get damaged too early.

How to dispose of environmental bulbs

Always recycle your bulbs at designated places. Among other materials, environmental bulbs are made of mercury, which is a dangerous heavy-metal. If you break a light bulb in your home, the mercury cannot be vacuumed. Do not touch with bare skin and first remove bigger pieces with a cardboard. Then apply some sticky tape to remove the remaining tiny bits and wipe the area with a wet cloth. It is also a good idea to open the window in the room for at least 15 minutes so that you prevent mercury poisoning.

Most customers are not experts and may feel that the selection of fluorescent light bulbs is very wide, making it very difficult to choose the right one. The following guidelines should make the process much easier and nicer experience.

The perfect light bulb for you

The fluorescent light bulbs are produced in all types, forms and dimensions, so it would be easy to choose one that doesn’t fit. In order to avoid this, you should take your old bulb with you to the shop and match it with the available assortment. Be careful about the wattage – when replacing a traditional light bulb with the fluorescent one, you have to divide the wattage by four. So instead of a 60 watt traditional bulb, one 15 watt fluorescent bulb is sufficient. It is important to read the label carefully, especially if you want to put your new bulb in a dimmer light – not all types of light bulbs are suitable for dimmers.

The right place

For spaces with high temperature and insufficient ventilation, such as recessed ceiling fixtures, it would be a bad idea to use a fluorescent light bulb. The fluorescent bulb is not lit up immediately as the traditional one. It usually takes something between one and three minutes for it to give proper light, so it may be destroyed if it is lit up and then switched off again in a short time. Therefore use in places where the bulb can stay lit for at least 15 minutes at a time to prevent early damage.

The right light

Always recycle your bulbs at appointed places. The fluorescent bulbs contain mercury, a dangerous heavy-metal. If broken, do not vacuum. Do not touch with bare hand and first remove bigger pieces with a cardboard. Then apply some sticky tape to remove the remaining tiny bits and wipe the place with a wet cloth. It is also a good idea to open the window in the room for at least 15 minutes so that you prevent mercury poisoning.