Compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs)

Similar term(s): Energy-saving lamps, Energy-saving light bulbs, Compact fluorescent light bulbs, CFLs.

Compact Fluorescent Lamps (CFLs) are energy-saving light bulbs, which last longer and use far less energy than traditional (or incandescent) light bulbs for the same level of light intensity.

Source: GreenFacts

Compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) can replace incandescent lamps that are roughly 3–4 times their wattage, saving up to 75% of the initial lighting energy. They are made of a glass tube filled with a low pressure mixture of gases, specifically mercury and noble gases. The tube is coated on the inside with a fluorescent material, usually a compound containing phosphorous. When the current is switched on, the starting mechanism produces electrons that excite the gases inside the tube which then release ultraviolet radiation. This in turn excites the coating on the inside of the tube, which emits visible light through the surface of the lamp.

Source: GreenFacts

Electromagnetic spectrum - Incandescent light bulbs - Noble gases - Ultraviolet radiation - Watt

GreenFacts Summary on Mercury

Deutsch: Kompaktleuchtstofflampen (CFLs)
Español: Lámparas compactas fluorescentes (CFL)
Français: Lampes fluorescentes compactes (LFC)