A fluorescent lamp or fluorescent tube is a gas-discharge lamp that uses electricity to excite mercury vapor. The excited mercury atoms produce short-wave ultraviolet light that then causes a phosphor to fluoresce, producing visible light. A fluorescent lamp converts electrical power into useful light more efficiently than an incandescent lamp. Lower energy cost typically offsets the higher initial cost of the lamp.
While larger fluorescent lights have been used mostly in commercial or institutional buildings, the compact fluorescent lamp is now available in the same common sizes as incandescents and are used as an energy-saving alternative in homes and smaller offices.
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