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Can I turn my CFL on and off frequently? I've been told I have to turn it on and leave it on all day. Turning a CFL on and off frequently can shorten its life. To take full advantage of the energy savings and long life of ENERGY STAR qualified CFLs, it is best to use them in light fixtures you use the most and are on for at least 15 minutes at a time. Good locations include outdoor light fixtures, indoor fixtures in the living room, family room, kitchen, bedroom, recreation room, etc. This is not to say you should leave your lights on all day if you use ENERGY STAR qualified CFLs. It is still a good habit to turn the lights off when you leave the room for an extended period of time. Can ENERGY STAR qualified CFLs be used in recessed cans, outdoor lights, or track lighting? Yes! Always read the packaging of the CFL to be sure of its proper application, but there are a wide variety of ENERGY STAR qualified CFLs that are designed for use in most fixtures in your home or business. Product types include: There are a few qualified 3-way and dimming CFL models that can be used for 3-way fixtures or in dimmable recessed cans or track lighting. Search for CFL features you want in our "advanced" product search. Incandescent shape (or A-shaped) and Globes, both are good in fixtures where the bulb is exposed or in fixtures with clamp lamp shades Reflectors are intended for non-dimmable track lighting and recessed cans, and some weather protected outdoor spot lights Candle shapes can be used in some porch lights, in wall scones and in some chandeliers Spirals, and mini-spirals are getting smaller and smaller in size and can be used in almost any fixture, especially table and floor lamps with harped shades Can ENERGY STAR qualified CFLs be used with dimmer switches? Yes, certain ENERGY STAR qualified CFLs are made to work on dimmers. Be sure to check the fine print on the back of the packaging for the proper applications to see if there are any restrictions on the product’s use. Dimming an ENERGY STAR qualified CFL that is not designed to work with a dimmer switch can shorten its life significantly. What is the proper way to dispose of CFLs? CFLs include a very small amount of mercury vapor inside the glass tubing. Because of the mercury, the best way to dispose of your used fluorescent bulbs is to recycle it by bringing it to your local hazardous waste collection site, as you do with paint and batteries. Check first with your municipality to confirm that they will accept CFLs. Log onto www.earth911.org or www.lamprecycle.org for more information about lamp recycling in your area. Does ENERGY STAR recommend installing CFLs in the bathroom? You can use ENERGY STAR qualified CFLs in bathrooms; however, high humidity can shorten the life of CFLs. To avoid moisture problems generally, control humidity in your bathroom by running your ventilating fan during and 15 minutes after showers and baths. What is ENERGY STAR? ENERGY STAR is a government program that offers businesses and consumers energy-efficient solutions, making it easy to save money while protecting the environment for future generations. Energy efficient choices can save families about a third on their energy bill with similar savings of greenhouse gas emissions, without sacrificing features, style or comfort. ENERGY STAR helps you make the energy efficient choice. My CFL burned out before the packaging stated it should. What can I do to get my money back? I don't have the original packaging or receipt. If your ENERGY STAR qualified CFL product burns out before it should, look at the CFL base to find the manufacturer’s name. Visit the manufacturer’s web site to find customer service contact information to inform them of the early failure. Manufacturers producing ENERGY STAR qualified CFLs are required to offer at least a 2-year limited warranty (covering manufacturer defects) for residential applications. In the future, save your receipts to document date of purchase. Does temperature affect the life of a CFL? For example, would a CFL work in extremely cold temperatures, or extremely wet climates? Extreme temperatures can affect CFLs. Some CFLs can be used outside in temperatures down to –10 degrees Fahrenheit and up to 120 degrees Fahrenheit, though when it is very cold they may take longer to reach full brightness. There are some ENERGY STAR qualified CFLs that are weatherproof and can be used outside where exposed to rain, so check for “weatherproof” models before installing it in your outdoor spot light. How do I select the right CFL for the amount of light I need? If a light fixture is rated for a maximum 75 watts with an incandescent bulb, does that mean I am limited to a 20-watt CFL (equivalent light output to a 75-watt incandescent)? Or, can I use a 25-watt CFL, which is the equivalent to a 100-watt bulb? Since the light fixture can accept up to 75 watts of power, you can use any light bulb with a rated wattage of 75 or less. In fact, if you want more light in that fixture, you can use a 25-watt CFL, and get the light output of a 100-watt incandescent! The great thing about ENERGY STAR qualified CFLs is that you get more light for less power. Just look for an ENERGY STAR qualified CFL with the light output you need. In this case 1,600 lumens is equivalent to a 100-watt incandescent light bulb. Use this chart to check the average light output of incandescent bulbs to find the ENERGY STAR qualified CFLs with the light output, or the lumens, you need. A-shaped Incandescent Bulb (Watts) 40 60 75 100 150 Typical Lumen Output (Measure of Light Output) >450 >800 >1100 >1600 >2600 Some ENERGY STAR qualified CFLs have a bluish white hue and others seem almost yellow in comparison. How can I find consistent colors in lighting? Just like incandescent bulbs are labeled soft white, cool white, bright white, etc., you will find ENERGY STAR qualified CFLs labeled soft white, cool white, or daylight (similar to bright white). When selecting a new CFL, it is a good idea to use the same color type as the incandescent you are replacing. Another way to do this is to look for the scientific color designation known as correlated color temperature (CCT) on the packaging: 2,700K, 3,000K, 5,100K, etc. Lower CCT numbers mean the light will be warmer white, while higher numbers mean it will be cooler light. Matching these numbers gets you consistent color. When changing out multiple bulbs in one room, select ENERGY STAR qualified CFLs with the same color and the same manufacturer to help ensure more consistent light color. I've noticed some CFLs need a few minutes to warm up, or reach full brightness. Is there a way to determine which warm up fastest? By choosing an ENERGY STAR qualified CFL, you are assured that it will turn on in less than a second, and reach at least 80% of full light output within 3 minutes. If the CFL doesn’t have the ENERGY STAR, both start time and warm up time could be much longer. Additionally, many lighting manufacturers offer “instant on” CFLs. Some spiral and mini-spiral products incorporate “instant-on” technology in their products and display this feature prominently on the product packaging. Some covered or reflector CFLs actually do take longer to warm-up, but the tradeoff is that they last longer than regular CFLs. ENERGY STAR qualified CFL products that are covered (like incandescent shaped, reflectors, globes, candles) have a higher operating temperature so they require a compound called amalgam to perform properly. This compound actually increases the bulb life and the light output! The one tradeoff is that these CFLs cannot offer “instant full brightness” The CFL will turn on, but may take up to three minutes to warm-up to reach full light output. Is the mercury in CFLs harmful? Is there a mercury health risk when using the CFLs? By just using a CFL you will not be exposed to the mercury. If a CFL accidentally breaks, ventilate the area and use standard precautions for cleaning up broken glass. Do not use a vacuum. Carefully dispose of broken glass in the garbage. To put the mercury content in perspective, a mercury thermometer contains roughly 100 times the mercury of a typical CFL. If you are still concerned about mercury, consider the big picture: mercury is released as a by-product from power plants that burn coal to generate electricity. The emissions get into the air we breathe and water we drink. By using ENERGY STAR qualified CFLs to light your home you are using at least 2/3 less energy, and therefore helping to decrease the amount of mercury released into our environment. What is a CFL? CFL stands for compact fluorescent lamp, and it is a small fluorescent light bulb that uses at least 2/3 less energy than a traditional incandescent bulb and can be screwed into a regular light socket. Don’t let the fact that it is fluorescent turn you off! ENERGY STAR qualified CFLs must pass extensive testing to ensure they produce only the highest quality light. Qualified bulbs labeled “warm white” or “soft white” produce light like typical incandescent light bulbs. CFLs that have a cooler color (similar to bright white incandescent bulbs) are usually labeled “bright white” or “daylight” on the product packaging. Will ENERGY STAR qualified CFLs fit into my existing fixtures? ENERGY STAR qualified CFLs can replace regular, incandescent bulbs in almost any fixture. They come in a wide variety of sizes and shapes including globe lamps for your bathroom vanity, chandelier bulbs, lamps for recessed downlights (now commonly found in kitchens, hallways, and more), and larger or more compact standard light bulbs. Check the packaging of the CFL to ensure that it may be used in an entirely enclosed fixture. Additionally, some ENERGY STAR qualified CFLs are specifically designed to provide dimming and 3-way functionality -- these options will be identified on the products' packaging. My friend told me about ENERGY STAR qualified CFLs. Why should I replace the incandescent bulb in my fixture with a CFL? ENERGY STAR qualified CFLs provide a quick and easy solution to help you save energy, especially in high-use light fixtures. CFLs are a great alternative to standard incandescent light bulbs because they use at least 2/3 less energy while providing the same amount of light. When you use less energy, you not only save money on energy costs, but also help protect our environment. Using CFLs is one of the simplest ways to start saving! What are the benefits of using ENERGY STAR qualified ceiling fans with lighting? Use 20 - 50 percent less energy to cool your home Lighting generates 70% less heat Save you about $25 every year in energy costs (these savings will vary by region and use) Help you do your part for the environment by reducing pollution caused by the generation of energy How much do ENERGY STAR qualified light fixtures cost? The cost of ENERGY STAR qualified lighting fixtures varies. Some ENERGY STAR qualified light fixtures cost the same as their traditional counterparts; others may cost more. But, ENERGY STAR qualified light fixtures use 2/3 less energy, so you will save on energy costs for as long as you own and operate the product. Why is energy saving so important? For every Kilowatt Hour of energy saved: 1.3077 Pounds of Carbon Dioxide have NOT been generated. 1.923 Grams of Sulfur Dioxide have NOT been generated. 1.623 grams of Nitric Oxide have NOT been generated. This doesn't sound like much BUT just one of our factories manufactures a fluorescent line that has been in business since 1964. So far their products have saved an estimated 15 billion kilowatt hours of energy. This relates to: 9.3 Million tons of Carbon Dioxide have NOT been generated into our atmosphere. 24.3Million kilograms of Sulfur Dioxide have NOT been generated into our atmosphere. 28.8 Million kilograms of Nitric Oxide have NOT been generated into our atmosphere