Compact fluorescents save energy and can (but not always) save money. By-and-large, these typically use around 25-30% as much electricity as regular incandescent lightbulbs of the same light output, and money savings from the reduction in electricity consumption can be significant, especially since most of the time the electricity cost is a larger percentage of the cost of lighting than the cost of the "bulbs" is. But there are some "ifs", pitfalls and bugs.
My compact fluorescent files:
General notes including some pitfalls, by Sam Goldwasser.
My longstanding, slightly disorganized one with brand/model-specific test results on many models. Many results are as new as 2004-2007, although quite a few from 1992-1996 remain. Includes test results ranging from the best of the name brands to 19 dollar store "brands"! (UPDATED 11/5/2007)
My page with recommendations of what compact fluorescents are best where, and where compact fluorescents are NOT RECOMMENDED. Also "bug reports" including 2 safety recalls. NEW PAGE linked from this one 11/19/2007, updated 11/19/2007.
NOTE - In the two above web files of mine, I compacted the sections on dollar store compact fluorescent lamps now that I have tested too many similar ones to comment on separately.
The CFL web page of "wiggie"/"Jabberwock".
The CFL article by Doug Hembruff.
Written by Don Klipstein.
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