Energy efficient bulbs can save you a surprising amount of money over their lifetime--while also benefitting the environment by reducing pollution from power plants. The most energy efficient bulbs available today are compact fluorescent light bulbs or CFLs. These “curly” bulbs use one-fourth of the energy and last about 10 times longer than a standard incandescent bulb.



According to DOE, an ENERGY STAR qualified CFL bulb can save you an average of $30 over its lifetime. With CFL prices dropping like the stock market of 2008, most energy efficient bulbs should pay for themselves in energy savings within six months to a year.

Lighting expenses typically consists of about 22% of a home electric bill. Like me, many people have saved a significant amount of money each month by converting their entire home to energy efficient bulbs. Once I replaced most of the incandescent bulbs in my home with CFLs, my electric bill began to average $48 per month lower than the previous year.

CFLs do require a spurt of energy when they are first lit, and each time a CFL is switched on it loses a little more of its lighting power. This start-up energy surge, along with the fact that it may take several minutes for a CFL to warm up to its brightest level, means that the best spot for these bulbs may not be in an area where you turn the lights on and off often throughout the day, such as in closets or bathrooms. Instead, consider placing energy efficient bulbs in more high-traffic areas such as in a kitchen, dining room, living room, hallway, etc., where the light is kept on for long intervals.

There are other spots in the home where CFLs might not be the best choice, for example on light switches controlled by dimmers, photocells or electronic timers, or in enclosed light fixtures without proper ventilation. Some CFLs are now made to work in these situations; be sure the package specifically rates them that way.

One concern many people have is the amount of mercury in each CFL bulb. All fluorescent bulbs contain some mercury, which is a potent toxin. In order to minimize any possible health threats, the DOE recommends specific steps to take when cleaning up and disposing of a broken CFL. Many states require CFLs to be recycled or treated as household hazardous waste, which means you can't just toss them in the trash.

For many people, the most compelling reason to switch to energy efficient bulbs is because they reduce air and water pollution by reducing the amount of coal that must be mined and electricity that power plants must supply. Some studies have shown that if everyone in the United States used energy efficient lighting throughout their homes, we could close down 90 average-sized power plants. These plants put out tons of emissions containing mercury, sulfur dioxide, carbon dioxide, and other pollutants, which could be eliminated if more people used energy saving bulbs.

To maximize your savings in money and energy, and minimize your impact on the environment, CFLs are still the best way to go. Now is the time to consider purchasing energy efficient bulbs for your home or small business. Start saving on your monthly utility bills today, while helping to preserve the environment for the generations to come.