Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs
Compact fluorescent bulbs feature high energy efficiency and long life. They replace common screw-in light
bulbs in most fixtures. Electric utility companies in the United States sometimes subsidize the price of CF
bulbs within their geographical service areas.
Note that some manufacturers advertise a light output and
life for their compact fluorescents which is not supported by testing. Consumer
Reports magazine did testing on this in about 2001, and the owner of this
website did additional testing in late 2006. You
can find those surprising test results
here.
Intelligent compact fluorescent bulbs can overcome several problems encountered
with regular CFs, like slow starting and lack of dimmability. See our article
about the growing variety of intelligent CFs.