Cheaper then solar, fluorescent lights bulbs called CFLs

By now, you would think pretty much everyone has heard about compact fluorescent lights (CFLs). Consuming roughly 30 percent of the power required for a similar incandescent bulb, and despite widespread availability and dramatically lower prices, awareness still remains quite low. Take, for example, the 100 watt incandescent light bulb. An equivalent LED (Light Emitting Diode) bulb would only draw 10 watts – and could easily last 60,000 hours. They are the bulbs of the future with such an astonishing energy savings, but a $25 light bulb is a hard sell. So that leaves the much cheaper CFLs, the no- brainer way to reduce home energy bills and slash greenhouse gas emissions.
Name brand CFL bulbs go for about two dollars these days. The CFL adoption rate in the United States, San Diego has finally taken off…about 100 million were sold there last year. The rate is much higher in Europe and parts of Asia. Australia says it will be the first nation to adopt lighting energy standards that effectively ban traditional bulbs, and there are plenty of other initiatives to do the same elsewhere. The CFL is here to stay. Mexico and Baja California are really just now coming along to purchase energy saving lighting sources that are much cheaper then a solar installation and are step one to have a greener living.
So how are we all going to make the switch? While you can find a CFL to fit most light fixtures these days, it’s a mistake to think they’re directly equivalent to incandescent bulbs. Like most things, CFLs present us with a series of trade-offs. You’ll have to do some thinking if you’d like to enjoy the energy saving benefits of CFLs without being surprised by their little quirks.
So here’s a quick guide to living with CFLs in the real world. Consider a few of these ideas, and your personal transition to CFL life should be painless and stress-free.

Buy quality florescent bulbs
You get what you pay for. CFLs are not all created equal, and the no-name bargain units are cheap for a reason. The difference is usually in the quality of the ballast – the bulky part between the CFL’s light tube and the screw base. Junky ballasts can mean flicker, buzz, and a short service life.
Start slow
Rather than re-lamping your entire home or office at one time, start out easy. Buy a couple brands of bulbs and experiment with the different color varieties to see which you prefer.
Unlike incandescent bulbs, which produce a broad color spectrum, CFL light is somewhat narrow in range. Designers make compromises to produce CFLs that range from “warm white” to “daylight,” and you may be more satisfied with one or the other depending on the room or where your new bulb is to be installed. Mix and match. Move your bulbs around. See what works best for you.
Choose the right kind of CFL
CFLs have a few limitations: Fortunately the biggest one doesn’t apply to us here in Baja….they don’t do well in cold temperatures. CFLs like being warm, and their efficiency drops with the temperature. Also, vibration will shorten their life, and you must buy specially marked CFLs if you plan to use them outdoors, in fully enclosed fixtures, or on dimmer circuits.
Generally speaking, you shouldn’t use CFLs in ceiling fans. They move around too much, and wear out prematurely. Outdoor CFLs are weatherized, and are usually enclosed in a secondary enclosure.
Modern CFLs have almost immediate start-up time. That means that when you flip the switch, there’s very little lag before the bulb turns on. But to achieve the sort of power efficiencies advertised on their packaging, CFLs must warm up to their operational temperature. This takes anywhere from 30 seconds to three minutes. During this period, they’re not much more power-stingy than incandescent bulbs.
Which is why swapping out low-usage lights – such as those in closets – is probably your least priority. Start with the lights you use the most. Read More about CFL’s

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