Cost comparison between energy consumption and lifetime depreciation for different compact fluorescent lamps starting scenarios

This paper presents an analysis of the benefit-cost ratio of turning off or not a fluorescent lamp in small time intervals, based on the relation between energy consumption and lamp lifetime depreciation. Thus, this paper analyzes compact fluorescent lamp ignition characteristics considering factors such as: electrical performance, lifetime depreciation, power consumption and the relationship between electrical energy cost and lamp lifetime reduction by switching it on/off. The experimental results show the equivalence between the lamp lifetime depreciation and electrical energy cost to keep it on when it is activated for a certain cycled time period.