COMPACT FLUORESCENT LIGHT BULBS (CFL)
Electric lighting consumes up to 25% of the average home energy budget. The electricity used over the lifetime of a single incandescent bulb costs 5 to 10 times the original purchase price of a CFL bulb.
Compact fluorescent light bulbs are simply miniature versions of full-sized fluorescents. They screw into standard lamp sockets, and give off light that looks just like the common incandescent bulbs - not like the fluorescent lighting we associate with factories and schools.
BENEFITS OF COMPACT FLUORESCENT LIGHT BULBS
CFLs are four times more efficient and last up to 10 times longer than incandescent light bulbs. A 22 watt CFL has about the same light output as a 100 watt incandescent. Compact fluorescent light bulbs use 50 - 80% less energy than incandescent light bulbs.
Although initially more expensive, you save money in the long run because CFLs use 1/3 the electricity and last up to 10 times as long as incandescent light bulbs. A single 18 watt CFL used in place of a 75 watt incandescent will save about 570 kWh over its lifetime. At 8 cents per kWh, that equates to a $45 savings.
| Color/Temperature Chart |
| Bulb Temperature Range | Color Appearance |
| < 2800K | Warm White - more orange/red light on objects. |
| 2800K to 3500K | Halogen White - a clear, white light with very little red or blue tones. |
| 3600K to 4900K | Cool White - in the low range of blue color, similar to ice. |
| 5000K < | Full Spectrum - a bright, white light that makes all colors stand out. |
ENERGY STAR is a joint program of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy helping us all save money and protect the environment through energy efficient products and practices.
Results are already adding up. Americans, with the help of ENERGY STAR, saved enough energy in 2007 alone to avoid greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to those from 27 million cars — all while saving $16 billion on their utility bills.
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