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Light bulbs might seem one of the most pointless things to be spending your money with at the shops. But, sadly most of us unnecessarily spend a quarter of our electricity bill to power inefficient lighting. Compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) have recently hit our supermarket shelves and are 75% more energy efficiently than the conventional incandescent light. However there is still much confusion, so it's important you note the following:

1.) Don't worry if the price of CFLs is higher than ordinary lights. CFLs last ten times longer, As well as Energy Star's figures showing a 75% saving in electricity.
How much you can save with CFLs:
If you replaced a standard 75W globe with the equivalent 18 Watt CFL, you would save yourself buying another nine 75W globes. Plus, that one CFL alone would save a total of 570 KWH off your power bills throughout its lifetime and still be as bright as a standard 75W globe. 8 cents a KWH equates to a saving of $45

2.) CFLs are available in an extensive range of different shapes and sizes suitable for what you are after. This ranges from a spiral lamp (similar lighting to an incandescent light), to flood lamps, globe lamps (suitable for bathrooms) and even candelabra for chandeliers. Supermarkets have a reasonable selection, but for a complete range, lighting stores are the best stop where you can also get expert advice.
Halogen downlights:
Well they are very popular and fashionable to have, but they are expensive to run with each downlight consuming about 60 Watts. However, new compact fluorescent downlights have recently become available. They use up to a fifth of the power of halogen downlights, and look almost identical. A downside is that you will need an electrician to install these lights, but the savings will definitely be worth any upfront costs.

3.) When choosing a CFL make sure that it is suitable for what you have in mind. Not all CFLs are dimmable, so make sure you read the label if you need this feature. Some CFLs are less suitable for outdoor use, so always check and ask for assistance if unsure.
The labels will also indicate lumens (brightness) of the CFL and match it to the Watts of a conventional light (e.g. as 18W = 100W brightness). Lumen charts are also available online and in stores. Also check out the color temperature, you can have a warm natural yellow color, or a cold white tone.

Limitations of CFLs:
- On/Off Cycling: frequently switching lights from on to off can shorten the life of these globes
- Contains small amounts of mercury make sure you don't break the globe and always keep out of reach from children
- CFLs take a few minutes to warm up' and reach full brightness
- Not suitable as spotlights most suited for area lighting
Environmental benefits:
- A single CFL globe will save a half-ton of CO2 emissions in its life time
- If all Americans changed their lights to CFL, there would be an annual saving of $8 billion, as well as a greenhouse gas saving equivalent to taking nearly 10 million cars off the road.

Finally, don't hesitate to start changing your globes to CFLs today. Even if you have a few incandescent lights left in your cupboards, the cost of powering these lights will be up to 10 times the amount you originally paid for them.

Learn more about this author, Matt McCormack.
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