Lighten Up: Invest in CFL's

Today, you can buy compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) as dim as a 25-watt incandescent, as a bright as a 150-watt incandescent, or anywhere in between. CFLs can last 15 to 20 times longer than 100-watt incandescents. Here are a few types to look for:

To replace a 60- or 75-watt lightbulb, consider a compact fluorescent with three pairs of tubes (sometimes known as a triple biax) or four single, fatter tubes (usually known as a quad lamp). These lamps consume 18 to 26 watts and are made by Phillips, Osram/Sylvania, General Electric, Lights of America, Panasonic and other companies. Available for about $20.

To replace a 100-watt bulb, look for CFLs that use between 28 and 38 watts. The majority of the brightest products are either circular in shape or use General Electric's "2D" design (looks like two letter "Ds" back to back). While larger fluorescents won't fit in every fixture, they're perfect for many table and floor lamps. Prices should be similar to or slightly higher than the lower wattage products, but the energy savings are greater.

To replace a three-way bulb, look for the brand new three-way fluorescents from Solium and Lights of America.

What if compact fluorescents won't fit in your existing fixtures? The good news is that manufacturers are finally starting to build attractive, high quality fixtures that use energy-efficient light sources. EPA is planning to launch an Energy Star labeling program for efficient fixtures in the spring of 1997, to assure that the fixture you're buying is truly energy efficient, provides high quality lighting, and is safe and reliable. In the meantime, here are some tips for finding good fixtures on your own:

+ Cheap fixtures are cheap for a reason. Don't be tempted by $14.99 halogen torchieres (uplights). They are notorious for burning out after only a few hundred hours of use. Worse, their high wattage halogen bulbs are even less efficient than typical incandescent fixtures. They use 300 watts of power apiece--as much as ten or more compact fluorescents! Most of that power gets wasted as heat, which can cause a fire if the fixture is placed too close to paper, cloth, wood or plastic. A recent, informal experiment to see how long it would take to cook an egg in a frying pan set atop a torchiere resulted in a fried egg in about two minutes (don't try this at home!). Desk lamps and ceiling fixtures with halogen bulbs under 100 watts are energy-efficient and not as dangerous. New, fluorescent torchieres should be available from Alsy Lighting and Energy Federation, Inc., by the spring of 1997.

+ Companies like Lightolier, Shaper Lighting, and Lights of America already make a variety of energy efficient, attractive fixtures that provide beautiful, warm light.

To figure out how much money you'll save by buying CFLs instead of incandescents, use this calculation: if your electricity costs are about the same as the national average (8 to 9 cents per kilowatt hour) and you buy your CFLs at typical prices ($15 to $20 apiece), the amount of money you'll save by using one is roughly the wattage of the CFL multiplied by 2. For example, if you buy a 30-watt CFL, expect to save about $60 over its lifetime, both in reduced energy costs and fewer replacement bulbs. If you can't find CFLs at a local home improvement center, you can buy them mail order from either Real Goods (800/762-7325) or Energy Federation, Inc. (800/876-0660).