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Compact Fluorescent Bulbs - CFL's

CFL’s are one of the easiest ways to save money on your electric bill. Many utilities even offer rebates just for purchasing them! Replace your regular light bulbs with compact fluorescent bulbs. They use just a fourth of the energy. Most take up a little more space than regular bulbs, but they will still fit in lots of light fixtures. Fluorescent bulbs used to be criticized for the flickering, bluish light they gave off. But now we can get compact fluorescent bulbs that match incandescent bulbs for warm light and color. Compact fluorescent bulbs are simply miniature versions of full-sized fluorescents. They screw into standard lamp sockets, and give off light that looks just like the common incandescent bulbs - not like the fluorescent lighting we associate with factories and schools.

Compact fluorescent bulbs can be applied nearly anywhere that incandescent lights are used. Energy-efficient CFLs can be used in recessed fixtures, table lamps, track lighting, ceiling fixtures and porch lights. 3-way CFLs are also now available for lamps with 3-way settings. Dimmable Compact fluorescent light bulbs are also available for lights using a dimmer switch.

CFL BULB STYLES

Spiral Lamps
CFL bulbs designed as a continuous tube in a spiral shape, which has similar outside shape and light casting qualities to standard incandescent light bulbs. Spiral CFL bulbs are made in several sizes to fit most common fixtures.

Standard Lamps
CFL spiral lamps with a dome cover. They are designed to give the appearance of the traditional light bulb for consumers looking for the more familiar light bulb appearance. The glass diffuser provides a quality of light similar to the 'soft-white' type of incandescent bulbs.

Globe Lamps
Globe Compact fluorescent bulbs are commonly used in bathroom vanity mirrors or open hanging lamps, and bare bulb applications. Bathroom vanities usually require multiple bulbs, which generate radiant heat. The CFL globe will reduce this heat buildup while saving energy. The glass diffuser provides a soft-white light.

Candelabra
The screw-in torpedo-shape and the small base of this bulb is designed for smaller light fixtures throughout the house, from chandeliers to sconces. To use a smaller candelabra-based bulb in a regular socket, you can use a socket reducer, available at many hardware stores and home improvement centers.

Triple Tube Lamps
These CFLs have more tubing in a smaller area, which generates even more light in a shorter bulb. They pack high light output into a very small space and can be used in fixtures designed for incandescent bulbs, such as table lamps, reading lamps, open hanging lamps, and bare bulb applications.

Flood Lamps
Flood lamps are designed to be ideal for recessed and track lighting fixtures indoors and outdoors. They provide diffused, soft, white light, and generate less heat than will an incandescent flood or a halogen bulb.

An energy star CFL uses 75% less energy and lasts up to ten times longer. They are rapidly becoming available in all shapes and sizes from candelabra to spotlights. Instead of having to change that bulb that is so hard to get to every year, now you can change it every ten years and save money at the same time!

CFLs are still more expensive than incandescent bulbs, however considering the life expectancy, and cost of operation, they are considerably cheaper in the long run. A CFL will pay for itself in about 500 hours (4 hours a day for four months). A 15-watt CFL creates the same light as a 60-watt incandescent bulb. Incandescent bulbs create heat while producing light, since CFL's don't waste energy creating heat they are much more energy efficient.

If every American replaced just 1 incandescent bulb with a CFL, enough energy would be saved to light 2.5 million homes for an entire year! Long Island will be incandescent free by 2010 - you will not be able to buy incandescent bulbs after 2010

CFL's contain mercury and should be recycled at your local hazardous waste collector.

Benefits of Energy Star Qualified CFLs

Bulb Comparison               Yearly Cost               Bulb Comparison              Yearly Cost
                                        To Operate                                                       To Operate

60 watt  Incandescent       $22.23             100 watt Incandescent          $37.05

14 watt CFL                        $5.19                       23 watt CFL                 $8.52

Savings per                         $17.04                      Savings per                 $28.53

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