How to Switch to CFL Light Bulbs

Compact fluorescent light bulbs replace regular incandescent bulbs with many times the efficiency and longevity. The average household can save a great deal of money and energy simply by switching to CFL bulbs.

Things You'll Need

• CFL light bulbs

Instructions

1. Get the lumen rating of your old bulb to see how powerful you need the new bulb to be. The higher the lumen rating, the brighter the light. The CFL packaging should provide information labeling its light output, with equivalency rankings comparing it to both lumen ratings and the wattage of incandescent bulbs.

2. Inventory the fixtures in your house to determine which ones you use the most often. If you have limited funds or want to switch to CFL bulbs in stages, concentrate on those fixtures which receive the most amount of use first.

3. Examine your fixtures and see if they are open (such as lamps and outdoor fixtures, which extend into the air) or recessed. CFL light bulbs generally work better in open fixtures, where they receive more air flow, though reflector CFLs are preferred for use in recessed fixtures since their design allows for a more even dispersal of light.

4. Check the shade of light which the new CFL light provides. Like other light bulbs, their light varies in shade and intensity. Pick warm lights for social areas such as the living room or dining room, and harsher lights for work spaces such as the garage.

5. Find any lights in your home that make use of a three-way switch (i.e., can be turned on in more than one place) or a dimmer. You can buy CFL bulbs specific to those kinds of needs, but you should check first before making your purchase.

6. Take used CFL bulbs to the recycling center or seal them in a plastic bag when you are done with them. They contain trace amounts of mercury, and should be handled with care. If you break one accidentally, open a window and leave the room for 15-30 minutes, then sweep up the materials and place them in a sealable plastic bag.

Tips & Warnings

• CFL light bulbs cost more than regular bulbs, but they make up for it over time by lasting much longer. One CFL bulb provides light equivalent to 9 or 10 regular bulbs, and uses less energy to boot.

• CFL bulbs generally use much less wattage than incandescent bulbs. The wattage listed on the bulb package is almost always lower than an incandescent bulb providing equivalent amounts of light.