T5 Fluorescent Light for Your Home or Business

Since its introduction in the mid 1990s, the T5 fluorescent light product line has remained one of the longest lasting and most efficient light sources on the market. It is common knowledge that fluorescent lighting is more efficient than regular incandescent light fixtures. The T5 is a particularly effective type of fluorescent light. Glancing at the name, you might assume that the T5 is an earlier model of the T8 or T12 fluorescent light. Actually, the 5 refers to the size of the lamp’s diameter: five eighths of an inch. The T designation simply means that the lamp has a tubular shape. The T5 is a tubular lamp that is more compact than its fluorescent relatives.

Fluorescent lamps convert power into visible light at a drastically higher rate than incandescent bulbs. This means that they use much less energy to produce the same amount of light. They are also able to last many times longer than standard light bulbs. The initial cost is larger for fluorescent lights, but they more than pay the difference over their extended lifetimes. For all of these reasons, fluorescent lighting is already popular with businesses. These lamps last longest when used for several hours at a time. Turning them on and off frequently limits their lifetime, as does leaving them on for long periods of time. When used correctly, however, fluorescent lamps last more than 20 times as long as incandescent lights.

You may have heard that fluorescent lights contain trace amounts of mercury. A coating on the inside of the T5 bulb ensures that only about 3 mg of mercury are required. This quantity of mercury can fit on the period at the end of this sentence and poses no threat when it is within the bulb. If a bulb happens to break, the situation should be treated seriously, but when handled correctly, presents little hazard. First, the room should be ventilated. To be completely safe, do not clean up the glass with your bare hands. Pick up any tiny fragments with tape or a wet paper towel. If the break occurred in a carpeted area, you may vacuum if necessary and if the room is properly ventilated. The next time that the area is vacuumed, ventilate again. All cleaning materials, including a vacuum bag, should be sealed in a plastic bag for disposal. Personal safety equipment such as a dust mask, gloves, and a safety mask are sometimes recommended in order to be perfectly safe. Taking these precautions can help and certainly will not hurt. Overall, T5 lighting is safe for homes and businesses.

Due to its efficiency and long lifetime, T5 fluorescent lighting has become a popular fluorescent lamp choice. In addition to its compact size, the typical T5 lamp lasts about 5,000 hours longer than a standard T8. Keep in mind that if you are replacing a different type of fluorescent bulb with a T5 bulb, you may require retrofit conversion technology. This is simpler than it sounds, but research your situation thoroughly before committing to a product.

T5 fluorescent light is one of the most efficient ways to light a home or business. By converting from incandescent lighting, you can achieve some impressive energy savings. There is a lot of information about fluorescent lighting that can be found online. Educate yourself about the various light sources that are available before making the switch. It is also easy to order as many fluorescent bulbs as you need through online outlets. Online shopping is handy because it is so easy to scan a large selection of products to compare specifications and prices. You will be surprised how inexpensive it can be to convert to energy efficient T5 lighting. The resulting energy savings make switching a worthwhile endeavor.