If you haven’t already made the switch from incandescent light bulbs to compact fluorescent, what are you waiting for? The benefits of making the switch have been restated over and over again in the past couple of years. However the number of people who are not convinced is still astounding. Lighting a home accounts for roughly 20% of the energy bills and getting rid of those incandescent light bulbs around the house can reduce those bills significantly. Here are some facts and figures that are sure to change some minds.

• Compact fluorescent bulbs may be a lot more expensive than regular incandescent bulbs, but it pays for itself within 6 months
• CFL bulbs will will generate savings of up to $30 over its lifetime
• They use 1/4 of the energy of incandescent bulbs to produce the same amount of light
• They last 10x longer

What to Look For:

Compact fluorescent light bulbs now come in many sizes, shapes and colors. There are even ones that can be used with a dimmer or 3-way switch. Always look for the Energy Star label. The lighting output measure in watts is different than incandescent bulbs, but there should be a comparison chart on the box where you can find the fluorescent light output equivalent.