How to Choose a Compact Fluorescent Light Bulb

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Compact fluorescent light bulbs, or CFLs, use about 75% less energy, give off 90% less heat, and last up to ten times longer than old-fashioned incandescents. Changing over is as easy as... well, screwing in a light bulb.

To complete this How-To you will need:

A store or online retailer that sells compact fluorescent light bulbs

Step 1: Examine old bulbs

Examine your old bulbs. Note their wattage and color.

Step 2: Note light fixture details

Note the size, shape, and location of your light fixtures.

Tip: Take special care to measure enclosed light fixtures to be sure that larger CFLs will fit.

Step 3: Calculate CFL watts

Calculate how many watts your new compact fluorescent bulbs should have. CFLs use about a quarter of the energy to produce the same light, so replace your old bulbs with fluorescents with one quarter the watts.

Step 4: Look for Energy Star label

Look for CFLs that are marked with the government rated Energy Star label, indicating that they're the most efficient bulbs.

Step 5: Note color of light

Note the color of light the new bulbs produce, and choose ones that produce the right amount and color of light for your fixture.

Tip: For a CFL bulb that produces soft white light like an incandescent, look for a correlated color temperature (CCT) rating of 2650 to 3200 and a color rendering index (CRI) of 80 or above.

Step 6: Check size & shape of bulb

Compact fluorescents are a bit larger than the old bulbs, so refer to any measurements you took of your fixture to make sure the size and shape of the bulb will work.

Step 7: Dispose of bulbs properly

Dispose of your fluorescent bulbs properly at the end of their very long life. The tiny amount of mercury inside them should be recycled, not tossed in a landfill.

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[venom751998]

USE LEDs!!!!! NOW THEY ARE MORE DEVELOPED!!!

[bloo94301]

I'd rather use candles to light my dark, cave-like house. Now I gotta search "How To Make A Fire"

[Zoddca321]

@SunTzuLao What's the best?

Incandecent bulbs: Last for a shorter period of time. Contain argon (hard to find gass) and wolfram (relatively hard to find metal). Are medium range priced. Much of the energy goes as waste to heat.

Fluoorescent bulbs: Last 10 yrs. or longer. Contain mercury (rellatively hard to find metal). Are more energy efficient. Are pricy.

[mmFG42]

@bigbobgotu The mercury only hurts you if break it and put it in your body.

[bigbobgotu]

@SunTzuLao but they save money so whats more inportant money or health? realy dude ;)

[stevenabb]

No thanks to CFB's!!! I just don't buy into the idea that a mercury, phosphorus, argon bulb is "good for the environment"??!!! Really, when they are dumped into landfills by the millions? 4~5 mg per shot. As an added bonus, your also tossing a small circuit board with chemicals inside a capacitor. The real kicker, they say it last 8x times as long unless you: use them in a bathroom, use them outdoors, use them upside down, use them with a dimmer, confined... YEA HOW ELSE DO YOU USE BULBS????

[BoxingPride]

Why would I want to grow my babies with shitty ass bulbs to help 'save' the environment? Guess what folks... there are FAR WORSE THINGS that our hurting our planet right now then fucking bulbs. How about Major 'oil' companies hmm? Or that doesn't count?

[partyongarth420]

@SunTzuLao a 90 watt led cant out perform a 400 watt hps are u fucking mad lol.. ive never even grown with either.. but from what ive read.. u are definetley wrong

[partyongarth420]

@JcTechProductions hahah seriously right... i agree.. i think someone would have to roll around in cfl dust and have skin contact for days on end to harm them much.. im more scared of the air in my city then any of the cfls in my house