Top 5 Reasons to use CFL

Incandescent bulbs are OUT folks, gone with the dinosaurs. There is a better alternative, and it is Compact Fluorescent Lighting - but no longer the slow-starting, flickering bulbs of the past. With the advent of cheaper and smaller bulbs, it's hard to understand why anyone still objects to switching over from the "dark side". Still need a reason to switch?

1. It's cheaper. Replacing a 60-watt incandescent bulb with a 15-watt fluorescent bulb will save you about $36 over the duration of its 10,000-hour rated life. Yes, that does adjust for the slightly higher price you pay at the store.

2. It's climate-friendly. Replacing that same 60-watt incadenscent bulb will also reduce CO2 emissions by 600 pounds during the 10,000-hour time period. Atmospheric CO2 is the major greenhouse gas implicated in global warming.

3. It's cooler. CFL emits only 30% of its energy as heat, while incandescent and halogen lights emit 90% of their energy as heat. This is why a fluorescent bulb requires only 1/3 the energy to produce a certain amount of light.

4. It's safer to use. CFL lasts about 10 times longer than traditional lighting, reducing the need to change bulbs in hard-to-reach places. The lower surface temperature of the bulb also reduces the risk of burns and other safety hazards.

5. It's trendy. Ok, truth is, concern for the environment is IN now. Jump on the bandwagon already.