- Think about how much light - or lumens - you need. For example, a regular 60 watt incandescent bulb outputs about 800 lumens of light. When you choose a 13-watt ENERGY STAR qualified CFL instead, you still get about 800 lumens of light, but use less energy.
- Use the "4-to-1" rule when choosing a CFL. One CFL uses about one quarter the energy of an incandescent. To replace a 100-watt incandescent bulb, look for a CFL around 23-25 watts to get the same amount of light.
- Think about the color "temperature." Choose a CFL with a color temperature around 2700 degrees - which is the same as an incandescent - and you'll enjoy a warm, inviting light. Choose a higher temperature if you want brighter light - for example, task lighting.
- Check the package. While CFLs can be used almost anywhere you use an incandescent bulb, traditional CFLs cannot be used in 3-way or dimmable fixtures or motion sensors. Specialty CFLs are available for these types offixtures. Also, check to make sure that the CFL can be used in an enclosed fixture.
Where to use ENERGY STAR qualified CFLs:
1. Anywhere lights are on the most
- kitchen ceiling light
- living room table and floor lamps
- bathroom vanity
- outdoor porch light or lamp posts
2. In hard-to-reach fixtures - you'll need to change the bulbs less often.
3. In any fixture where you want more light without exceeding its maximum wattage
The ENERGY STAR Choose a Light Guide is an interactive online tool designed to show you which CFL types are most appropriate for certain fixtures. The Guide also demonstrates the differences between soft white, bright white, and daylight color temperatures, and provides tips for proper CFL use.
Did you know?
- An average CFL bulb lasts five to seven years, depending how it's used.
- If you install a CFL bulb in your home today and turn it on three hours every day, it won't burn out until 2014!
- An incandescent light bulb only uses 10% of energy for light; the other 90% is wasted as heat. But a CFL uses 40% of its energy for light, with only 60% output as heat - which helps keep your home cooler.
- The energy that a CFL bulb saves over its lifetime is equal to almost 46 gallons of oil.
- If every American home replaced 5 high-use bulbs with ENERGY STAR CFLs, each family would save more than $60 every year in energy costs.
- In just 15 days incandescent bulbs waste more money than you paid for the bulb in the first place.
ENERGY STAR Education and Training:
The ENERGY STAR Training Center is a resource for manufacturers, retailers, Energy Efficiency Program Sponsors, and others that are interested in enhancing sales staff's knowledge of ENERGY STAR. The Training Center provides simple, persuasive, customizable training tools developed by ENERGY STAR and other parties around the country that will train sales associates on the ENERGY STAR program and how ENERGY STAR qualified products can lower consumers' energy bills while protecting the environment.
Visit the ENERGY STAR Lighting Training Center to connect with customizable training materials on ENERGY STAR qualified compact fluorescent bulbs (CFLs), lighting fixtures, ceiling fans, and advanced lighting packages. Download sell sheets, at-a-glance materials, and presentations to help train sales staff on how ENERGY STAR qualified products can save customers money while helping the environment.
