What is Fluorescent
Definition of Fluorescent in Construction
A type of lamp that uses an electric current to stimulate a mercury vapor gas, that is located within a tube, to stimulate this gas and produce an ultraviolet light which causes a coating of phosphor on the inside of the tube to glow. A fluorescent lamp is several times more efficient than a standard incandescent bulb that requires the resistance within an element to produce a glow, and therefore the light. The cost of the initial fluorescent bulb is substantially more than the cost of an incandescent fixture, due to the need to include what is called a ballast in the light itself. This ballast reduces and controls the amount of electrical energy that is distributed through the lamp itself. Due to the presence of mercury, the fluorescent tubes are considered hazardous waste and must be properly recycled or disposed of.