Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs (CFL)
Lighting accounts for approximately 5 to 10 per cent of a home's energy use. CFLs are a safe, energy efficient alternative to old incandescent light bulbs.
- If you heat your home with a geothermal heat pump, natural gas, or electric heating system, you will benefit from the installation of CFLs. If you install 6 CFLs in your home, the savings on your energy bill will range from $4.75 to $22.00 per year (depending on the factors listed below).
- In contrast, if you heat your home with propane or fuel oil, the installation of CFLs may result in an increase to your total energy bill. We do not recommend that these customers switch to CFLs.
The energy savings you will realize from installing a CFL in place of a traditional incandescent style bulb will vary depending on:
- the cost of energy used to heat your home;
- the seasonal efficiency of your heating system;
- whether or not your home is air conditioned.
Traditional incandescent light bulbs generate heat that contributes to heating your home in the winter. CFLs generate lower amounts of heat, so their installation increases the demand on your heating system in the winter, but reduces the load on your cooling system in summer.
CFLs use much less electricity and last up to eight times longer than incandescent light bulbs (about four years or 6,000 to 8,000 hours). Use CFLs where the light is on for 30 minutes or more, such as the kitchen, bedroom, family room, or porch light. CFLs are just as bright, flicker-free, and come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and hues to fit many applications.
What to expect when a CFL burns out
CFLs and incandescent light bulbs burn out differently. When a CFL bulb burns out, it's not unusual for the base of the bulb to turn yellow or make a popping sound. A puff of smoke and/or a strange odour may come from the bulb. This is part of the CFL end-of-life protection system.
Underwriters Laboratories is an independent product safety testing and certification organization. For more information on what to expect when your CFL burns out, visit the Underwriters website.
