Whatever happened to CFL bulbs?

Overshadowed by LEDs, these bulbs are still around and here's why

Published: February 12, 2015 06:00 PM

Photo courtesy of Department of Energy

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CFLs have improved over the years that Consumer Reports has tested them. Back in 2007 you could find CFLs that flickered when first turned on, cast a weird light, hummed, buzzed, and even smoked when they burned out. The older bulbs contained more mercury and prices were higher. And while CFL stands for Compact Fluorescent Light or Lamp, you couldn't blame a person for calling them Curlicue Flawed Lights.

But as Consumer Reports' lightbulb Ratings show, some CFLs are impressive or even excellent overall. They aren't the top scoring lightbulbs—LEDs are—but they're cheaper and the best CFLs we tested are bright, cast a warm light, are quicker to fully brighten, and aren't greatly affected by frequently turning them on and off. CFLs use about 75 percent less energy than the incandescent bulbs they replace and are claimed to last 7 to 10 times longer.

Here's how to save money. Use less energy, and you'll trim your electric bill. For about $1.25 you can buy a CFL that replaces a 60-watt incandescent yet uses only 15 watts. You'd save $63 in electricity and replacement bulbs over the CFL's claimed life of 9 years, when used 3 hours a day. That's based on the national average electricity rate. It takes you about six weeks to earn back the $1.25 you spent on the CFL. And a CFL that replaces a 100-watt incandescent would save about $100 over its 9 year life, and takes six weeks to recoup the $2.30 you paid. If you live where electricity is expensive—Alaska, California, Hawaii, and New England to name a few places—you'll save even more money.

Need to know

Check our lightbulb Ratings. We test dozens of CFLs and LEDs.
Look for utility rebates. It's another way to save. And thumbs up to Marylanders: You won't have to pay the 6 percent sales tax on Energy Star CFLs and LEDs this weekend, February 14-16, 2015.
Choose Energy Star. CFLs that are Energy Star qualified must meet high standards for brightness, color, and energy use and the mercury content is capped.
Read the Lighting Facts label. It's on the back of the CFL box and tells you the bulb's light color—warm, cool—and more.
Use as directed. Most CFLs aren't dimmable and note what kind of fixture the bulb can be used in and if it's meant for outdoors. We indicate all of this in our lightbulb Ratings too.
Keep receipts. Energy Star CFLs come with a warranty of at least two years.
Be patient. CFLs take time to fully brighten. You'll see the warm-up scores in our Ratings. Some take seconds while it may take up to several minutes for flood/reflector CFLs, especially when used outdoors in frigid temperatures. So don't use CFLs where you need instant light.
Recycle. CFLs still contain small amounts of mercury and the bulbs should be recycled. This keeps the mercury from being released into the environment if the bulb breaks in the trash or landfill. If a CFL breaks at home follow the cleanup tips from the EPA.