Home Buyer’s Guide:
Energy-efficient Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs

Today’s Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs (CFLs):

• Use 2/3 less energy and last up to 10 times longer than incandescent bulbs
• Offer newer, more versatile and attractive designs that fit most fixtures, including dimmable, 3-way, and decorative candelabra
• Provide instant, warm color illumination for interior lighting as well as appropriate indoor and outdoor reflector floodlight capacity

EPA Recommends the Use of CFLs:

• If every household in the United Stated replaced one frequently-used incandescent bulb with a CFL we would need NO new power plants for the next five years.
• Replacing just one 60-watt incandescent bulb with a 13-watt CFL can save a consumer $30 in energy costs over the life of the bulb.
• CFLs produce 70% less heat than standard incandescent bulbs, so they’re safer to operate and help cut costs of home air-conditioning.

Availability and Aesthetics for Home Lighting:

• CFLs are stock items in hardware departments of many retail stores such as Lowe's, Home Depot, Wal*Mart and Sam's.
• CFLs can be purchased on-line from many websites, including www.1000bulbs.com, where more variety in design and color is available.
• Light warmth/color is indicated in various ways on packaging and in web or catalog descriptions. Look for ranges of 2500-3500K on the Kelvin unit scale. Otherwise look for words or color symbols indicating very warm white to warm white for interior residential lighting. Higher Kelvin scale numbers indicating whiter/cooler are more appropriate for artists, non-residential or exterior uses.

For more information about CFLs and other Energy Star products go to www.energystar.gov.

Mercury in CFLs:

Although CFLs still contain about 5 milligrams of mercury and should receive special disposal, even with no special disposal they are far more a benefit than threat to the environment. Disposal options are listed by zip code at www.earth911.org or by calling 1-877-EARTH911. Locally, you may dispose of CFLs at LensMasters, 11309 Midland Ave. (at Lindbergh) for 50¢ each. Or you may bring them to the monthly Womens Voices meetings. Should you break a CFL bulb, double bag the pieces and put them in your trash. Clean up the break area with a damp cloth.