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Buy ENERGY STAR® CFLs, save money and protect our planet
Why buy ENERGY STAR qualified compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs)?Switching from standard incandescent light bulbs to ENERGY STAR qualified CFLs is the easiest, least expensive step you can take to reduce energy use, protect our environment and reduce your electricity costs!
If every home in America replaced just one incandescent lightbulb 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.
A brand new generation of ENERGY STAR qualified compact fluorescent lighting is longer-lasting, brighter, and much more efficient than lighting of the past. ENERGY STAR qualified CFLs offer many benefits:
- Use up to 75% less energy and can last up to 10 times longer than standard incandescent bulbs
- Are a cool and safe alternative to incandescent bulbs because they operate at lower temperatures
- Are available in many shapes, sizes, and color temperatures for all household applications
- Are ideal in fixtures that are on for long periods of time or are in difficult to reach areas
- Come with a two-year manufacturer warranty
Choose the right bulb
ENERGY STAR qualified CFLs provide the same amount of light (lumens) as traditional bulbs, but use less energy (watts). To find the right CFL for your needs, look for the lumens listed on the packaging. Choose the lumen level that relates to the incandescent wattage you’re replacing. For example, if you are looking for a light bulb that gives off the same amount of light as a 60-watt incandescent bulb, look for an ENERGY STAR qualified CFL that puts out 800 lumens or more (see table below).
| Typical light output (minimum lumens) | 450 |
800 |
1,100 |
1,600 |
2,600 |
Incandescent bulb (Watts) |
40 |
60 |
75 |
100 |
150 |
Additionally, look for the Correlated Color Temperature (CCT) when choosing the right bulb. CFLs of the past came in one color, cool white—a color temperature often described as institutional or undesirable. Now you can choose the CCT of bulbs that you purchase. For a light that emits a color close to incandescent bulbs, look for a CCT range between 2650 and 2800 degrees Kelvin (K). This range is referred to as warm white. Common CFL bulb colors are 2700K, 3000K, 3500K and 4100K. CCT measurements:
| 2650 - 3200K | Warm White (Yellowish-White) |
| 3200 - 4000K | Neutral |
| Above 4000K | Cool (Bluish-White), Also Called "Daylight" |
Visit Change a Light to find the SKU number for specific bulbs. The SKU will help when checking with the retailer to see if the bulb you want is in stock.
Installation
To properly install the bulb, grip it by the base. Depending on the base of your bulb, it may need to be pushed straight in for pin-based lamps, inserted and then twisted for GU-24 base lamps or simply screwed-in for traditional bases. Perform the reverse when removing bulbs.
To take full advantage of the energy savings and long life of ENERGY STAR qualified CFLs, it is best to use them in frequently-used light fixtures that are on for at least 15 minutes at a time. It is still a good habit, however, to turn lights off when you leave the room for an extended period of time. It is not recommended to use CFLs in closets, in can lights or with dimmer switches or timers unless you buy specialty CFLs specific to those uses.Mercury in CFLs
Learn more about what to do if you break a CFL, mercury in CFLs and where to recycle CFLs in your area.
