Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs

Compact fluorescent light bulbs, also known as CFLs, offer the energy efficiency of traditional fluorescent light bulbs, but they're typically designed to fit sockets and fixtures that were designed to fit incandescent bulbs. CFLs last up to 15 times as long as incandescent bulbs while using about 75 percent less energy. They're especially cost-effective when you keep the lights on for a long time, as in factories, offices and commercial establishments. Because they last so long and don't need to be changed often, they're a great choice for places that are hard to reach.

Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs

Consider replacing light bulbs at your office or home with energy-saving CFLs. Available in a range of shapes, color temperatures and lighting outputs, CFLs can outperform traditional incandescent bulbs in almost every category, including product lifespan. Experiment with CFL bulbs in warm or cool hues to set the right mood, comparing the light output of your bulbs regardless of type to simplify shopping.

Energy-Efficient

According to the Department of Energy, a compact fluorescent bulb uses about 75 percent less electricity than a standard incandescent, while lasting nearly 10 times as long. Although CFLs cost slightly more to purchase, the energy savings can add up over the course of a bulb's lifespan, making them an economical and eco-conscious choice. The more light bulbs you replace, the more you can save, significantly lowering overhead in buildings that use a lot of lighting, such as offices, factories, schools and patient-care facilities. CFLs also produce less heat than incandescent bulbs, so they help keep indoor spaces cooler during warm weather, especially in work environments with bright lighting, such as shops and assembly lines.

Intense or Soft

CFL light bulbs come in a variety of lighting intensity levels, from the gentle glow of a table lamp to the bright illumination of a floodlight. If you find it confusing to shop for bulbs trying to compare wattage to that of old incandescent lighting, try comparing by lumen output instead. The lumen rating measures the amount of light that the bulb emits, rather than how much electricity it consumes, which is what wattage measures. Because the rating measures actual output, the number remains the same regardless of the light bulb type, whether you're using LEDs, incandescents or fluorescent light bulbs. For example, a candelabra-style bulb in a chandelier gives off around 350 lumens, whether it's a 40-watt incandescent or an 11-watt CFL. Approximately 800 lumens is suitable for most office and home lighting, providing the equivalent of a 60-watt incandescent light bulb. For bright task lighting over work areas, consider selecting 1,600 to 2,600 lumens, which is the same as a 100-watt or 150-watt bulb, respectively.

Warm or Cool

Compact fluorescent bulbs cast a warm, inviting glow or cool, white light, offering versatile choices for different environments. Light bulb color temperature is measured in Kelvins to make comparing easy. A CFL with a temperature rating around 2,700K emits a warm light with a yellowish hue, and it can capture the feel of traditional incandescent light bulbs, while a 3,500K bulb has a cool white hue similar to natural daytime light. Lighting temperature can have an effect on a room's ambiance, with warmer tones creating a relaxed mood and cooler light encouraging alertness and focus.