CFLs: a bright idea
Conserving energy is important for
living wisely in the desert. And,
switching to ENERGY STAR® qualified
CFLs (compact fluorescent light bulbs) is
a great way to be power wise and
help the environment.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
says ENERGY
STAR qualified bulbs:
- Use about 75% less energy
than standard incandescent bulbs
and last up to 10 times longer.
- Save about $30 or more in
electricity costs over each
bulb's lifetime.
- Produce about 75% less heat,
so they're safer to operate and can
cut energy costs associated with
home cooling.
Matching the right CFL to the right kind of fixture helps ensure that it will perform properly and last a long time.
Buying and usage tips
Choose the right ENERGY STAR qualified
bulb for your fixture:
- See the ENERGY
STAR usage chart to see where
different styles of CFL bulbs work best.
- Read the CFL package for these
important pieces of information:
- Caution
to see where those bulbs
should not be used.
Light output
(lumens) to determine the
brightness of the bulb.- Color guide
to help you choose the light you
prefer, from warm to
cool white.
- Use outdoor-specific bulbs in covered
fixtures where they are protected
from the weather.
- Note that most photocells and timers are
not designed to work with CFLs.
- Control humidity in your bathroom by
running the ventilating fan during and
after showers and baths.
- ENERGY STAR qualified CFLs have a
minimum two-year warranty. If the bulb
fails within that time, return it to
your retailer.
CFLs contain a small amount of mercury, about
enough to cover the tip of a ballpoint
pen. When a CFL burns out, recycle it.
The Environmental Protection Agency has more information about mercury and the environment.
Because CFLs contain a small amount of mercury, it's important to take the following precautions if one should break:
- If possible, ventilate the room.
- Use rubber gloves.
- On a hard surface: use paper or stiff cardboard to scoop up glass fragments and fine particles - don't vacuum.
On carpet: use sticky tape to pick up smaller pieces.- Wipe area with a damp paper towel to pick up stray shards or fine particles. Place glass fragments and paper towel in two sealed plastic bags.
- Wash hands after disposal.
You can also use this ENERGY STAR
fact sheet on CFL usage, clean up and disposal.
For a lighting question, you can Ask Jim, SRP's lighting expert via e-mail.
You can find special offers on CFLs and other ways to save energy and money through the SRP PowerWise™ program.
Go to our Home Energy Manager CFL calculator to see how much you might save by making the switch.