Dos And Don’ts Of Using CFL Bulbs
DONT TURN CFLS ON AND OFF A LOT. This will shorten the bulb’s life span, so you won’t fully reap its energy and cost savings. As a rule, put them in places where they’ll be on for extended periods, and switch them off only if you’re leaving the room for more than 15 minutes.
DO MATCH THE CFL TO THE TASK AND LOCATION. Some bulbs don’t work well in high heat or humidity (like steamy bathrooms), and some are slow to brighten in the cold (for instance, in an outdoor lampost). So be sure to look for temperature-range information on packaging so you can select bulbs designed for the location you have in mind.
DO CONSIDER DIMMERS. Dimming your lights is one of the most effective ways to reduce power consumption. (This also goes for regular incandescent lightbulbs, by the way). But if you want to use a dimmer switch on a CFL, you must buy a bulb made specifically for dimming, and it may not have the same range of dimming as an incandescent bulb. Some do not dim as low as regular lightbulbs.
DONT EXPECT CFLS TO MAINTAIN THERE INTENSITY. CFLs can lose as much as 10 percent of their initial brightness after 1,000 hours and as much as 20 percent before they fizzle out.
DO LOOK FOR ENERGY STAR-APPROVED BULBS. The Energy Star certification will help ensure that the color quality, life span, and performance of the bulbs are close to the manufacturer’s claims. Uncertified bulbs may have disappointing performance. Either way, CFLs may sputter, smoke, and melt when they start to go, a technical glitch that Energy Star is working on. (Go to www.energystar.gov for more information.)