FAQs

Q.What is a Compact Fluorescent Lamp (CFL)?
A. A CFL is a small fluorescent light bulb that uses less energy than a standard bulb to provide the same amount of light and can be screwed into a regular light socket.

Q. How do they work?
A. CFL's use electricity to cause the phosphorous coating on the bulb to glow – which is a very efficient use of energy. The traditional incandescent bulb uses electricity to heat a wire filament causing it to glow – which is a very inefficient use of electricity based on Thomas Edison's design from the 1880's.

Q. What is the quality of CFL light?
A. Newer generation CFL's give a warm, inviting light instead of the cool white light of older fluorescents. They use rare earth phosphors for excellent color and warmth without any flicker or hum.

Q. Why use CFL's?
A. CFL'S bearing the ENERGY STAR label use 75% less energy than traditional bulbs, can lasts up to 10 times longer, save $35 or more on energy costs over their lifetime, and generate 70% less heat. If every American swapped just ONE traditional bulb for a CFL, it would collectively eliminate the building of 8 fossil fuel power plants, prevent burning 30 Billion pounds of coal, save $8 Billion in energy costs, and remove 2 Million cars worth of greenhouse gas emissions from our atmosphere.

Q. What is an LED?
A. An LED (Light Emitting Diode) is illuminated by the movement of electrons in a semiconductor material. LED's use small amounts of power, produce very little heat, and lasts a long time.

Q. What is the ENERGY STAR label?
A. The most energy efficient bulbs carry the ENERGY STAR label which signifies the approval of the government backed energy efficiency program.

Q. How are burned out or broken CFL's disposed?
A. All fluorescent lights contain trace amounts of mercury. There is far less mercury in CFL's than in thermometers or old thermostats. Plus using these bulbs helps prevent mercury from being released into the air from coal-fired power plants. When they burn out years down the road, carefully recycle them like you would your old computers, cell phones and televisions. Go to www.earth911.org or www.lamprecycle.org  for the recycling location nearest you.