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I would like to start using energy efficient lighting both on my projects and in my own home but I am very unhappy with the appearance of the light from compact fluorescent lamps. Any advice?

Penny Bonda -- Interior Design, 12/5/2006 12:30:00 AM

Kudos to you for making this decision. If more people would do the same, the impact on energy use would be phenomenal. According to a recent article in Fast Company, "…if every one of 110 million American households bought just one (CFL) bulb, took it home, and screwed it in the place of an ordinary 60-watt bulb, the energy saved would be enough to power a city of 1.5 million people…One bulb swapped out: enough electricity saved to turn off two entire power plants--or skip building the next two."

That’s huge, yet just five percent of the 5.5 million light bulbs Americans purchase everyday are CFLs, and the reason is just as you’ve stated—the perception that the quality of light isn’t as appealing. However, the light quality and color rendering capabilities of fluorescent lamps have really improved, approaching those of incandescent bulbs. The secret is to select the correct lamp, and to help, Environmental Defense has posted an interactive light bulb search tool on Environmentaldefense.org.

Begin by plugging in your criteria such as location, shape, brightness, color of light and other features like dimming. For example, a search for a dimmable reflector lamp to be used for a recessed can with medium brightness and warm white color yielded three results from three different manufacturers along with handy user comments.

The change to fluorescent lighting does take some getting used to. It can take a CFL longer to reach full brightness than an incandescent bulb and the appearance of the light will be different—not worse, but different. I changed out the incandescents in my own home and don’t miss them a bit. Give it a try.