NEXUS PENDANT
20-in. diameter
55 watts (circle bulb)
Sea Gull Lighting
Model 69151BLE-962
$283
What you get
Style: These fixtures feature handsome glass shades, not plastic.
Many other styles are available through lighting stores and catalogs
(see the Buyer's Guide, below).
Energy savings: Fluorescent bulbs consume about one-third as
much electricity as a standard incandescent bulb to produce the
same amount of light. Choose a fluorescent bulb in the 13- to
17-watt range to replace a 60-watt incandescent, an 18- to
24-watt fluorescent to replace a 75-watt incandescent and a
25-to 28-watt fluorescent to replace a 100-watt incandescent.
Nice light: The light looks identical to the light from an incandescent
bulb. You can't tell the difference if you can't see the bulb.
Long-term savings: These fixtures use only fluorescent bulbs.
The bulbs last 8,000 to 10,000 hours compared with about 1,000
hours for incandescent bulbs. You can expect to save $10 to $40
per bulb before they wear out. The list prices quoted here include
the bulb. Retail prices are often lower - sometimes much lower.
ARIA SCONCE
4-in. diameter
18-watt bulb
American Fluorescent
Model ARS118SNEC
$108
Buying tips
For the biggest savings, buy
fluorescent fixtures for lights that
you use at least two hours a day.
The electricity saved adds up quickly
for lights you keep on that long. The
electrical savings on heavily used
lights will soon make up for the
higher purchase price of a fluorescent
bulb.
Estimate the amount of light you
need, then go for a brighter
fixture. Fluorescent bulbs dim
somewhat over their long (10,000
hours) life span.
You can't put a dimmer switch
on most fluorescent fixtures...yet.
The manufacturers are working on
this, but for now, if you want to dim
your lights, stick to special screw-in
compact fluorescents or incandescent
bulbs.
When you're buying an outdoor
fixture, make sure the fluorescent
bulb will start in cold weather.
Most of these start at temperatures
as low as 0 degrees F or lower.
However, in cold weather, the bulb
will require a few minutes to reach
full brightness.
Unless you're highlighting a workbench,
countertop or other work
space, buy "warm white" bulbs
(labeled as either 2,700 or 3,000
degrees K) for interior use. "Cool
white" light (labeled as 4,000
degrees K) creates a more commercial atmosphere.
OLYMPIA PENDANT
8-in. diameter
13-watt bulb
Kichler Lighting
Model 10780 AP
$98
MONTROSE SCONCE
4-in. diameter
plus shade
18-watt bulb
American
Fluorescent
Model MNS118RBEC
$108
SERENITY CHANDELIER
25-in. diameter
Three 13-watt bulbs
Sea Gull Lighting
Model 39058BLE-962
$345
HIGH COUNTRY
CEILING
14-1/2-in. diameter
40 watts (circle bulb)
Kichler Lighting
Model 10819 OI
$246
WALL SCONCE
Two 13-watt bulbs
Kichler Lighting
Model 10662 NI
$144
SEBRING OUTDOOR
8-in. diameter
13-watt bulb
Sea Gull Lighting
Model 89070PBLE-98
$190
IRIS OUTDOOR
8-7/8-in. diameter
18-watt bulb
American Fluorescent
IRW118ETEC
$144
ALAMEDA OUTDOOR
9 in. wide
18-watt bulb
Kichler Lighting
Model 10960 CV
$136
Fixtures, bulbs
and ballasts
The fixtures we show in this article have
a ballast and a pin-type fluorescent bulb
that plugs into it (photo above). You can't
screw in a standard incandescent bulb or
even a screw-base compact fluorescent.
The small ballast we show here is used in
many of these fixtures. It accepts either
spiral shape or tube shape bulbs. However,
a ballast accepts bulbs of only one
wattage level. You can't switch from a
13-watt bulb to an 18-watt bulb without
switching ballasts.
Fixtures with higher light output utilize
several small bulbs or one of several circle-
type bulbs. These circle bulbs also
have pin mounts.
Typically, the bulbs last 10,000 hours
and the ballasts about 30,000 hours. At
three hours per day, that's almost 10
years for the bulb and 30 years for the
ballast! Sometimes you can find replacement
bulbs ($5 to $10) at home centers
and lighting stores. Pin configurations
vary. Take the old bulb with you when
you go to buy a replacement to make
sure you get the exact same base. You
can also order them through a lighting
store or from an Internet source. (See the
Buyer's Guide.) New ballasts cost $15 to
$40. The ones shown above cost about
$16. Order them through lighting stores.
Buyer's Guide
FIXTURE MANUFACTURERS
American Fluorescent: (847) 249-5970. www.americanfluorescent.com
Kichler Lighting: www.kichler.com
Sea Gull Lighting: (800) 347-5483. www.SeaGullLighting.com
FLUORESCENT BULBS ONLINE
One online retailer of fluorescent bulbs is www.efi.org, which
sells replacement pin-type bulbs as well as screw-base compact
fluorescents, including dimmable bulbs. For other sources, type
"compact fluorescent bulbs" into a search engine.
