Energy-Saving Bulbs: The Good and the Bad

Compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) are energy savers, no doubt about it. A quote from the Environmental Protection Agency and Department of Energy website says it well:

If every American home replaced just one light with an ENERGY STAR light, we would save enough energy to light more than 3 million homes for a year, about $700 million in annual energy costs, and prevent 9 billion pounds of greenhouse gas emissions per year, equivalent to the emissions of about 800,000 cars.

We started using these bulbs over 20 years ago, after our first energy audit. Back then, the bulbs and ballasts were separate. We can attest to their miserly energy use, but know that all brands are not equal. Last summer, we had another (free) energy audit, and received eight bath/vanity globes, manufactured by Feit Electric and called "Ecobulb plus". Nearly all these bulbs have failed already. Not only that, but they make very annoying buzzing noises. We paid nothing, luckily, but we have priced these bulbs in stores and they cost about $7!

Saving energy should not cost you that kind of money. Brands that we have had good luck with in the past are Phillips and Maxlite. Remember--these bulbs have mercury in them, so premature failure is actually bad for the environment.