Lighting accounts for about 7% of a home's energy costs. CFL bulbs use 66% less energy and last up to ten times as long as incandescent bulbs. The higher efficiency ads up to energy savings of 3.6% on average. They now come in a range of sizes, so they’ll fit almost any type of fixture, and styles, including full-spectrum, which mimics natural sunlight.

Test out one of each - Soft white, Bright White, or Daylight, and see which one works best in your house. Traditional incandescent bulbs use more energy because the majority of electricity generates heat vs. light. Also consider choosing the ones that have a 'covered' dome over the spiral bulb for safety and a better looking fixture - especially for recessed lighting.

Sample performance: Replace 20 incandescent bulbs that are 60 Watts with a life expectancy of 1,500 hours, with CFLs that only use 14 Watts and last 10,000 hours.

The ROI Calculation is based on replacing 20 bulbs that typically burn 750 hours per year with CFLs that cost $3.00- $6.00 each, and average cost of electricity that is $2.76 per day. Each bulb saves on average $4 to $7 per year.

Pick the type of CFL bulb that is right for your home.

TAKE ACTION Calculate Savings for Your House: Click Here Great Prices and Selection: Click Here For information on mercury in CFLs and a Zip Code Locator for safe recycling: Click Here For new ceiling fixtures, find an Indoor Lighting Electrician near you (Pre-Screened and/or Member Referred) Click Here