CFL- Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs

CFL's are the buzzword for modern and "green" lighting meaning that they consume up to 75% less power than conventional incandescent bulbs. They also last up to 10 times longer and will save the homeowner up to $30 in electricity for the life of the bulb.

But all CFl's are not created equal so there are some considerations in choosing them for your home lighting needs.

Color temperature is important because it decides the brightness or shade. This is measured in Kelvins (K) with the warm, low light being in the lower K's and the crisp, bluer light bing in the higher K's. In the stores, most of the CFl's are in the 2600-300 Kelvin range and these bring out the reds, yellows and orange colors of the home. Whereas, the higher-rated bulbs (4000-6000 Kelvin) are the "daylight" types or "high beams.

To get the same "lumen" (lighting) rate" just use this quick 4:1 formula. So if an incandescent bulb is 100W then the corresponding CFL would be 23 to 27W for the same lumen value.

For a better quality bulb check for the Energy Star label. The EPA has some great information this site. For example, they contend that the spiral shape work better for open areas where this air flow while the reflector type can be covered. The shapes include the standard spiral, triple-tube, globe, flood lamp and the small candelabra. To use this small bulb you may need a socket-reducer which is is available in hardware stores.

There has been some doubt about the amount of mercuric content of the CFL bulbs and what that means to a landfill. Even tough the amount of mercury is very small it is a good idea to dispose of spent bulbs along with other hazardous waste like paint and solvents. Many disposal depots have facilities to take of them.