How to Pick a Compact Fluorescent Bulb (CFL)
7/28/2010 By Mike Connors - Bulbs.com
If you were disappointed by the performance of CFL bulbs in the last few years,
it's time to try again.
Though we call them light bulbs, traditional incandescent bulbs are actually
small heaters that give off a little bit of light - something you know if you've ever
touched a bulb that's been on for a while. These bulbs were technological wonders when
they were patented in 1880, but today they are inefficient dinosaurs. They waste energy
and money, and they are responsible for millions of tons of pollution that contribute
to global warming.
The next generation of CFL light bulbs
The next generation of Compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) now give off
higher-quality light while still using a fraction of the electricity as their earlier
predecessors. Using CFLs puts less strain on the electric grid and saves you money.
CFLs also reduce air pollution and the greenhouse gasses that cause global warming
buy using less energy: if every household in the country replaced just three 60-watt
incandescent light bulbs with CFLs, we would reduce as much pollution as if we took 3.5 million cars off the roads!
If you were disappointed by the performance of CFL bulbs in the last few years,
it's time to try again. You may have screwed in a large swirling twist of a bulb only
to find a faint flicker of cold, unflattering light that didn't even come near
replacing that 60-watt incandescent it claimed to compete with. Now both the design
of the bulbs and quality of light has improved dramatically. Also, though CFL prices
can be higher than traditional bulbs at the cash register, CFL savings add up quickly.
They lower your electric bill and last up to 20 times as long as the old-fashioned bulbs.
Install a compact Fluorescent on your 30th birthday; it may be around to help you
celebrate your 40th!
Here's how to make the switch:
Start with one bulb. Or Two.
For your first compact fluorescent purchase, buy just one or two bulbs to make sure
that they throw the kind of light you want. Pick a lamp or ceiling fixture to start
your replacement journey and evaluate the light the bulb or bulbs give before you buy
replacements for your whole house. When you pick your test site, do not pick a fixture
that is recessed and enclosed, on a dimmer, outside or exposed to moisture.
Evaluate your test bulbs
Do you like the light the bulbs give out? Are they bright enough and the right
color? Even today, some brands of 60-watt equivalent CFLs still do not seem to give off
as much light as a 60watt incandescent bulb. You may need to replace 60-watt bulbs with
two 75-watt equivalents in some ceiling fixtures to get the light you want. Or you may
need to try a brighter white light. If the first bulb you use in your test site is not
bright enough where you were trying it, just move it to a lesser-used closet or hall
fixture and try another CFL in your test space. Also remember that some CFLs still take
a minute or two to "warm up." The bulb's light may get brighter after it is on a minute or two.
Make a list
Count the number and types of bulbs in and around your home. You'll be surprised at
how many light bulbs you have in your house. If you count over 70, that won't be at all
unusual. You may also be surprised at the variety of bulbs. 60-watt, 100-watt, three-way,
candle tip, globe and reflector. Also pay attention to the light fixtures. Clever use of
reflectors, and directional lamps to get the light where you need it can save you another
50 percent energy cost and improve your comfort! Well thought out use of efficient lights
can thus reduce electricity needs up to 8 times.
Replace the lights you use most often first
You'll save more money immediately that way. As long as you can use CFLs in them, start
with your most used fixtures. Kitchen lights, the reading lamp by your bed, the light by the
doggie door you keep on all night for Buddy… whichever switches you are hitting the most
or keep on all the time are the first fixtures to target for the first bulb replacements. Make
a list. Note down the wattage, size and shape of bulb you need and the type of light you might
want for those areas. Then go buy a few bulbs!
Keep replacing bulbs until you have CFLs in every fixture that will take them
If you don't like a bulb in one place, try it in another! If you don’t find the shape or
application specific bulb you need (like for outdoor use in moist areas) on the Bulbs.com website,
give us a call at 1 (888) 455-2800 and a Bulbs.com lighting specialist will help.
Spend the money upfront
You have to take a deep breath, swallow hard and make a commitment to buying some of these
bulbs because, for example, those 8 reflector bulbs in your kitchen track lighting may cost
you $40 to replace but you know that the savings will make up for the expense very quickly.
Also remember that as more people buy CFLs, prices will go down and availability of unusual
bulbs will go up.
Making some lighting changes
As you replace traditional bulbs with CFLs, think about changing out enclosed fixtures
that won't take CFLs and dimmer switches that take more expensive and hard- to- find dimmable
CFLs. You may not want to do it now but you can plan for the future.
Tell your neighbors about your savings and trade CFL replacement tips
You may be surprised to find that they've already replaced all of their incandescent bulbs
too, or that they found a bulb for that fixture you all have in your entryways
Know your watts and lumens (light output)
We are accustomed to choosing bulbs by how much electricity they use. For example, a
40-watt incandescent bulb is on the dim side and uses less power, while a 100-watt bulb is
bright and uses a lot of juice. CFL bulbs have much lower wattage numbers than their
incandescent cousins, but don't let that fool you. CFLs provide much more light at a fraction
of the wattage of traditional bulbs. Because of this, CFLs are often categorized by lumens.
Lumens measure the amount of light a bulb gives off, making this measure a more accurate way
to tell how bright the new bulbs are in comparison to the incandescent bulbs.
507-572 |
CFL |
Lumens |
Cost Savings ($0.10/kWh) |
Cost Savings ($0.20/kWh) |
CO2 Savings (lbs) |
40W |
11-12W |
>490 |
$39-$44 |
$78-$88 |
507-572 |
60W |
13-18W |
>900 |
$62-$68 |
$124-$136 |
806-884 |
75W |
19-22W |
>1,200 |
$76-$83 |
$152-$166 |
988-1,079 |
100W |
23-26W |
>1,750 |
$107-$112 |
$214-$224 |
1,391-1,456 |
150W |
38-42W |
>2,600 |
$163-$169 |
$326-$338 |
2,119-2,197 |
Estimated calculations for cost and CO2 savings assume
15,000-hour life for CFL and represent savings over the expected life of the bulb.
For exact performance specifications refer to the eSpec page for each CFL.
Bulb Fact - the rated life of a bulb is
an industry calculation that measures the number of hours before 50% of the bulbs
will fail. In other words, if a bulb is rated for 1,000 hours, half of the bulbs
will burn out before 1,000 hours and half will last longer than 1,000 hours.
Remember this rule of thumb: CFLs use about a quarter of the wattage to produce
the same light. So to replace a traditional 60-watt bulb, buy a 15-watt CFL: 60-watt
incandescent / 4 = 15 watts.
Note: Some brands of 60-watt equivalent CFLs still do not seem to give off as
much light as a 60watt incandescent bulb. You may need to go to two 75-watt
equivalents in some ceiling fixtures to get the light you want. Or you may need
to try a brighter white light. This is another reason to try buying one or two
CFLs first. If the first bulb you buy is not bright enough where you were trying
it, just move it to a lesser-used closet or laundry room and try another CFL in
your test site. Again, comparing the lumen output of your old bulb (if you still
have an original package) to the lumen output of the CFL you plan to purchase
should help you to avoid purchasing an inadequate bulb.
What Color of Light do you need?
Selecting the proper color is an important decision
Light from yesterday's fluorescent lights, common in offices and schools,
can seem "cold." Light from CFLs is different and better - CFLs can achieve
the same kind of lighting you're used to from incandescent bulbs. Look for
packages labeled "2700 degrees Kelvin" or "warm-white." If you seek a brighter,
"whiter" light there are CFLs with 5000 degree Kelvin or "bright white" color
temperature. In between the 2700K and 5000K bulbs you may find 4100K or "cool
white" bulbs, a little whiter than the warm white 2700K and a little more
yellow than the bright white 5000K. 4100K is the color temperature typically
used in commercial offices and production areas.
Get the right bulb shape and size
First, some CFLs are larger than their incandescent equivalents causing
the CFL to be too big for some lamps. Depending on where you're going to install
your CFL be sure you determine the size of the fixture enclosure or the shade (to
know how big a bulb it can accommodate) and whether or not the bulb will show.
Shades that rest directly on the bulb with a metal clip won't work well on the
spiral bulb. Many CFLs have a coiled bulb and the coils can be either large or
compact. Check to see which will fit in your light fixture before you buy. The
good news is that there may be a CFL with a shape very similar to the old style
bulb you are replacing. These newer CFLs are available on our website.
Second, most CFLs screw into standard light sockets; however, on some bulbs,
the plastic piece above the screw part (the ballast) is slightly wider and might
not fit in every lamp. Caution: Avoid the bases that terminate with pins. They
are for commercial applications and will not fit into the sockets in your home.
Buy the right bulb for the right application
Buy a CFL Globe to replace the globe lights in your bathroom. Don't put
40-watt equivalent swirls in a wall sconce that takes candle tip or candelabra
bulb; they'll look silly and you (or someone else who lives in the house) won't
be happy with them. Also, make sure you like the shape and look of the replacement
CFL. The candelabra bulb replacements in CFL look more like a torpedo. As CFLs
become more popular you can be sure that the bulbs you want will be on the market.
You may have to do a little research to find the right bulb. If you can't find them
at your local store, go online. Or, in the future, you may want to consider
replacing older fixtures with more modern fixtures that will accept CFLs.
Buy ENERGY STAR® for reliability
Bulbs that carry the ENERGY STAR label have met or exceeded a long list of
tests for energy efficiency and reliability. ENERGY STAR is a joint government
program of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of
Energy. Keep in mind that not all types of CFLs are tested by ENERGY STAR so
purchasing any non-ENERGY STAR bulbs should be done through a reputable supplier
like Bulbs.com to insure support after your purchase. For a list of qualified
ENERGY STAR products and suppliers, visit www.energystar.gov.
Be careful choosing CFLs for a dimmer
There are exceptions to this rule, but the majority of CFLs are not made
for dimmers yet. There are a few that already do work, but scrutinize the
package to make sure. Look for products that include statements saying "for
use with dimmers." Again, consider purchasing just one or two to be sure
they work on the dimmers in your home or business. Even dimmable CFLs that
work on your dimmer will not dim the same way that an incandescent or halogen
bulb will. The dimming range for a CFL usually goes from 100% (full power)
down to 20%. Below 20% power the bulb shuts off completely making the effective
dimming range of the CFL just 80% of the range of a comparable incandescent or
halogen. Evaluate how much you use each dimmer switch. Some people find they
have dimmers on many switches in their home and they don't really use most of
the dimmers. You may want to simply replace the dimmer switch with a regular
switch and use regular CFLs. Bulbs.com carries a selection of CFLs that work
on dimmers.
Do not use CFLs in recessed and enclosed fixtures
Recessed light fixtures and fixtures that are completely enclosed (no air flow)
are more likely to cause early failure for most CFLs. Why? The additional heat
generated by the bulb in the enclosed fixture is too much for the ballast that
is integrated into the base of the bulb. Although the CFL will operate in these
fixtures, the life of the bulb will be shortened substantially from its rated life.
Check for outdoor use
Many, not all, CFLs are designed for both indoor and outdoor use. Check the
packaging to make sure you get the kind you need. Use CFLs labeled for use in
outdoor fixtures only. CFLs will not work well in temperatures below 20 degrees
Fahrenheit. If you intend to use the bulbs in an environment below 20 degrees
check with the distributor or manufacturer to be sure the bulbs you buy will do
the job. Don't use a CFL in a socket or fixture that is exposed to the elements
unless the bulb is made for outdoor use. For exterior fixtures like the "jelly jar"
type near the door, a standard spiral CFL will work but likely won't last too
long because of the enclosed nature of the jelly jar globe. Find a CFL intended
for use in an enclosed fixture for the jelly jars. For outdoor floodlight
fixtures with halogen lamps, there are a few CFL PAR bulbs now on the market
with wattage and lumen output equivalent to a 90 watt or 100-watt halogen PAR.
These PAR CFLs are also rated for outdoor use. Again, testing one or two is the
best option to insure they deliver the quality of light you require. If a CFL is
not a suitable replacement for your halogen flood then consider using a motion detector.
Motion detectors save energy and money by turning on lights only when needed.
Dispose of your bulbs properly
All compact fluorescents contain trace amounts of mercury. But don't worry. First
of all, there is far less mercury in CFLs than in other items knocking about the
house: CFLs (4 mg), thermometers (500 mg), older thermostats (3,000 mg). Plus,
using CFLs actually prevent mercury from being released into the air thanks to
their huge energy savings. A power plant, for instance, emits about 10 mg of
mercury to produce the electricity to run an incandescent bulb compared to only
2.4 mg of mercury to run a CFL for the same amount of time. Recycling
burnt-out CFLs is the best option.
Contact Bulbs.com to evaluate the energy savings available for your business
If you like the energy savings from CFLs in your home, you'll love them at your
business or homeowner's association. Whether your workplace is a retail store,
office, restaurant, hotel, production facility, warehouse or other commercial
building, the energy saving technology used to create CFLs is being deployed in
many other types of lighting as well. Retailers and hotel chains across the
nation have converted incandescent and halogen bulbs to CFLs. As you might
expect, the annual energy savings in a commercial facility that converts to
energy efficient lighting is measured in the thousands (if not tens of thousands)
of dollars. For you business owners and managers, consider contacting Bulbs.com
to assist you with energy saving calculations as well as to determine if your
electric utility is offering a rebate incentive for the installation of energy
efficient lighting, heating and air conditioning systems.
Portions of this material were obtained from the following:
- Greenpeace
- www.fightglobalwarming.com
- Chesapeake Climate Action Network
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