Lighting: Compact fluorescent bulbs gaining in popularity
By Steve Cahalan

Compact fluorescent light bulbs and energy-efficient lighting fixtures are becoming popular as Americans try to hold down their electric bills, says Monty Gilbertson, a certified lighting consultant and manager at Lighting Design by Wettstein’s in La Crosse, Wis.

The store sells lighting fixtures and bulbs.

“We’re seeing more people sampling the water as far as compact fluorescent lights,” Gilbertson said.

Benefits include a longer life for the bulb, less energy used and a pleasing color of emitted light, he said. The first compact fluorescent light bulbs gave off light that was “very, very white,” Gilbertson said. “And when they first came out, they were low on light output — they weren’t very bright.”

But today’s compact fluorescent light bulbs provide as much light as a standard incandescent light, while using a quarter of the electricity. And they provide a “softer light” than before. Standard incandescent light bulbs have about 1,500 hours of life, compared with 7,000 to 8,000 hours of life for a compact fluorescent bulb, Gilbertson said. The traditional long fluorescent light tube in rectangular fluorescent lights in kitchens or garages has been improved over the years and now has about 20,000 hours of life, he said.

“And there’s no more buzzing and humming, due to electronic ballast technology,” Gilbertson said. Light-emitting diode, or LED, lights also are showing up in lighting stores, Gilbertson said. The new LED technology is energy-efficient. But LEDs are relatively expensive at this point and best for lighting counter space or steps because the light doesn’t project much farther than a few feet.

“LEDs are one of the newest trends,” Gilbertson said. “There’s no heat.”

Look for the Energy Star logo on light bulbs and light fixtures, which will indicated that they require less energy. An Energy Star light fixture probably will use a compact fluorescent bulb.

Steve Cahalan writes for the La Crosse Tribune in Wisconsin. Contact him at steve.cahalan@lee.net .