Compact Fluorescent Lights (CFL)

An easy low-cost way to save electricity on your lighting is to replace your incandescent light bulbs with CFL bulbs.

CFL bulbs use as much as 75 percent less energy than incandescent bulbs. Incandescent bulbs are very inefficient at using electricity. In fact some have referred to them as “small heaters that also give off a little bit of light.” You will use less energy cooling your home because CFLs burn much cooler than incandescents.

People associate the wattage of a light bulb as its brightness. The wattage is actually the amount of energy the bulb uses. The amount of light generated is measured in lumens. To compare watts and lumens for incandescent and CFL bulbs:

Limitations

On/off cycling

The rated 10,000 hour lifetime of CFLs can be reduced when they are turned on and off very frequently. Areas that require brief illumination such as closets are not the best candidates for CFLs.

Dimmers

Be sure to check packaging when purchasing CFL bulbs to be used on a dimmer switch. Regular CFL bulbs do not work well on dimmer switches.

Extreme temperatures

Most CFL bulbs run dim in very cold temperatures, making them unsuitable for use outdoors during the colder months. Most CFL bulbs won’t function below 20°F.

Mercury content

CFL bulbs contain a small amount of mercury. A CFL bulb generally contains an average of 5 mg of mercury. This is about the amount that would cover the tip of a ballpoint pen and about 20 percent of the amount found in a typical watch battery.

Important Note: Safe disposal tips for CFLs

What precautions should I take when using CFLs in my home?

CFLs are made of glass and can break if dropped or roughly handled. Be careful when removing the bulb from its packaging, installing it, or replacing it. Always screw and unscrew the lamp by its base (not the glass), and never forcefully twist the CFL into a light socket. If a CFL breaks in your home, follow the clean-up recommendations below. Used CFLs should be disposed of properly (see below).

What should I do with a CFL when it burns out?

As of March 2008, EPA recommends that consumers take advantage of available local recycling options for compact fluorescent light bulbs. EPA is working with CFL manufacturers and major U.S. retailers to expand recycling and disposal options. Consumers can contact their local municipal solid waste agency directly or go to www.epa.gov/bulbrecycling or www.earth911.org to identify local recycling options.

Unbroken, burned out CFLs can be dropped off at local Home Depot and Ikea stores.

If your state permits you to put used or broken CFLs in the garbage, seal the bulb in two plastic bags and put it into the outside trash, or other protected outside location, for the next normal trash collection. CFLs should not be disposed of in an incinerator.

ENERGY STAR qualified CFLs have a warranty. If the bulb has failed within the warranty period, return it to your retailer.

How should I clean up a broken fluorescent bulb?

The following steps can be performed by the general public:

1. Open a window and leave the room for 15 minutes or more.
2. Carefully scoop up the fragments and powder with stiff paper or cardboard and place them in a sealed plastic bag.
   • Use disposable rubber gloves, if available (i.e., do not use bare hands). Wipe the area clean with damp paper towels or disposable wet wipes and place them in the plastic bag.
   • Do not use a vacuum or broom to clean up the broken bulb on hard surfaces.
   • Place all cleanup materials in a second sealed plastic bag.
   • Place the first bag in a second sealed plastic bag and put it in the outdoor trash container or in another outdoor protected area for the next normal trash disposal.
   • Note: some states prohibit such trash disposal and require that broken and unbroken lamps be taken to a local recycling center.
   • Wash your hands after disposing of the bag.
3. If a fluorescent bulb breaks on a rug or carpet:
   • First remove all materials you can without using a vacuum cleaner, following the steps above. Sticky tape (such as duct tape) can be used to pick up small pieces and powder.
   • If vacuuming is needed after all visible materials are removed, vacuum the area where the bulb was broken, remove the vacuum bag (or empty and wipe the canister) and put the bag or vacuum debris in two sealed plastic bags in the outdoor trash or protected outdoor location for normal disposal.

Information taken from ENERGY STAR's Frequently Asked Questions, Information on Compact Fluorescent Bulbs (CFLs) and Mercury, August 2007.