Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs (CFLs)

Energy Savings
Choosing the Right CFL
Proper Disposal & Recycling
Clean up a Broken CFL
Frequently Asked Questions
Use the Light Bulb Energy Saver to calculate the savings of replacing incandescent bulbs with CFLs.

Energy Savings

Compact fluorescent bulbs (CFLs) combine the energy efficiency of fluorescent lighting with the convenience and popularity of incandescent fixtures. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy, every light bulb that you change to an ENERGY STAR® rated CFL will:

• Use 1/3 of the energy of a standard incandescent light.
• Last up to 10 times longer than a standard incandescent bulb.
• Save an average of $30 or more in energy costs over the life of the bulb.
• Prevent 450 pounds of greenhouse gas emissions over its lifetime.
• Help preserve our energy resources.

CFLs are available in a variety of styles or shapes. Some have two, four, or six tubes. Others have circular or spiral-shaped tubes. The size or total surface area of the tube(s) determines how much light it produces. CFLs are most cost effective and efficient in areas where lights are on for long periods of time and because CFLs do not need to be changed often, they are ideal for hard-to-reach areas.

Compare the cost to light your porch all night

Frequently Asked Questions about CFLs NEED LINK

Choosing the Right CFL

Helpful tips on where to use CFLs and how to find the right replacement bulb NEED LINK

Proper Disposal

Switching to CFLs is a simple way you can help lower your energy use at home and help to prevent greenhouse gas emissions. In fact, if every home in America replaced just one incandescent light bulb 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.

What makes these bulbs use 2/3 less energy than a traditional bulb is a small amount of mercury—an average of 5 milligrams, which is roughly equivalent to an amount that would cover the tip of a ball-point pen. By comparison, older thermometers contain about 500 milligrams of mercury. No mercury is released when the bulbs are intact or in use, and the energy efficiency of CFLs actually presents an opportunity to reduce mercury emissions. However, proper disposal or recycling of these bulbs can result in even more environmentally friendly energy savings.

More information on clean up and proper disposal of CFLs from ENERGY STAR and the Environmental Protection Agency

Recycling

DS&O Rural Electric offers recycling of household compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFL) in our offices. Members can bring in burned out household CFLs to any office to be safely recycled at no charge. So take advantage of the energy savings of CFLs now and when your next CFL burns out--which may take up to ten times longer than a traditional bulb--remember you can recycle it at any DS&O office.

Cleaning Up a Broken CFL

1. Open a window and leave the room (restrict access) for at least 15 minutes.
2. Remove all materials you can without using a vacuum cleaner.
• Wear disposable rubber gloves, if available (do not use your bare hands).
• Carefully scoop up the fragments and powder with stiff paper or cardboard.
• Wipe the area clean with a damp paper towel or disposable wet wipe.
• Sticky tape (such as duct tape) can be used to pick up small pieces and powder.
3. Place all clean up materials in a plastic bag and seal it. It is recommended that you place these materials in two plastic bags before disposal. Wash your hands after disposing of the bag.
4. The first time you vacuum the area where the bulb was broken, remove the vacuum bag once done cleaning the area (or empty and wipe the canister) and put the bag and/or vacuum debris, as well as the cleaning materials, in two sealed plastic bags in the outdoor trash or protected outdoor location for normal disposal.