Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs (CFLs)

Energy Savings

Compact fluorescent bulbs (CFLs) combine the energy efficiency of fluorescent lighting with the convenience and popularity of incandescent fixtures. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy, every light bulb that you change to an ENERGY STAR® rated CFL will:

• Use 1/3 of the energy of a standard incandescent light.
• Last up to 10 times longer than a standard incandescent bulb.
• Save an average of $30 or more in energy costs over the life of the bulb.
• Prevent 450 pounds of greenhouse gas emissions over its lifetime.
• Help preserve our energy resources.

CFLs are available in a variety of styles or shapes. Some have two, four, or six tubes. Others have circular or spiral-shaped tubes. The size or total surface area of the tube(s) determines how much light it produces. CFLs are most cost effective and efficient in areas where lights are on for long periods of time and because CFLs do not need to be changed often, they are ideal for hard-to-reach areas.

Compare the cost to light your porch all night

Frequently Asked Questions about CFLs

Choosing the Right CFL

ENERGY STAR qualified CFLs provide the greatest savings in fixtures that are on for a substantial amount of time each day. At a minimum, ENERGY STAR recommends installing qualified CFLs in fixtures that are used at least 15 minutes at a time or several hours per day. The best fixtures to use qualified CFLs in are usually found in the following areas of your home:

• family and living rooms
• kitchen
• dining room
• bedrooms
• outdoors

How to Choose the Right Light

Matching the right CFL to the right kind of fixture helps ensure that it will perform properly and last a long time. For example:

• CFLs perform best in open fixtures that allow airflow, such as table and floor lamps, wall sconces, pendants, and outdoor fixtures.
• For recessed fixtures, it is better to use a reflector CFL than a spiral CFL since the design of the reflector evenly distributes the light down to your task area.
• If a light fixture is connected to a dimmer or three-way socket fixture, you’ll need to use a special ENERGY STAR qualified CFL designed to work in these applications. Make sure to look for CFLs that specify use with dimmers or three-way fixtures.
• Choose a qualified CFL that offers a shade of white light that works best for you. For example, while most CFLs provide warm or soft white light for your home, you could choose a cooler color for task lighting.
• To choose the ENERGY STAR qualified CFL with the right amount of light, find a qualified CFL that is labeled as equivalent to the incandescent bulb you are replacing. Light bulb manufacturers include this information right on the product packaging to make it easy for consumers to choose the equivalent bulb. Common terms include “Soft White 60” or “60 Watt Replacement.”

You should also check the lumen rating to find the right CFL. The higher the lumen rating, the greater the light output. Consult the following chart to determine what CFL wattage is best to replace your incandescent light bulb:

Proper Disposal

Switching to CFLs is a simple way you can help lower your energy use at home and help to prevent greenhouse gas emissions. In fact, if every home in America replaced just one incandescent light bulb with an ENERGY STAR® qualified CFL, it would save enough energy to light more than 3 million homes and prevent greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to those of more than 800,000 cars annually.

What makes these bulbs use 2/3 less energy than a traditional bulb is a small amount of mercury—an average of 5 milligrams, which is roughly equivalent to an amount that would cover the tip of a ball-point pen. By comparison, older thermometers contain about 500 milligrams of mercury. No mercury is released when the bulbs are intact or in use, and the energy efficiency of CFLs actually presents an opportunity to reduce mercury emissions. However, proper disposal or recycling of these bulbs can result in even more environmentally friendly energy savings.

Fact Sheet on Mercury in CFLs from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment

More information on clean up and proper disposal of CFLs from ENERGY STAR and the Environmental Protection Agency

Recycling

United Power offers free recycling of household compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFL) in our offices. We cannot accept tube-shaped fluorescent lighting.

Home Depot and Ace Hardware stores also offer free recycling of compact fluorescent light bulbs. Please check with your local store on program specifics.

Visit Earth 911 or Lamp Recycle to search for a local recycling facility.

Some counties and municipalities in Colorado conduct annual collections of household hazardous wastes, while others have permanent collection facilities or sponsor curbside pickup programs. Find more information about recycling options in your area from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment.

Cleaning Up a Broken CFL

1. Open a window and leave the room (restrict access) for at least 15 minutes.
2. Remove all materials you can without using a vacuum cleaner.
   • Wear disposable rubber gloves, if available (do not use your bare hands).
   • Carefully scoop up the fragments and powder with stiff paper or cardboard.
   • Wipe the area clean with a damp paper towel or disposable wet wipe.
   • Sticky tape (such as duct tape) can be used to pick up small pieces and powder.
3. Place all clean up materials in a plastic bag and seal it. It is recommended that you place these materials in two plastic bags before disposal. Wash your hands after disposing of the bag.
4. The first time you vacuum the area where the bulb was broken, remove the vacuum bag once done cleaning the area (or empty and wipe the canister) and put the bag and/or vacuum debris, as well as the cleaning materials, in two sealed plastic bags in the outdoor trash or protected outdoor location for normal disposal.