Compact fluorescent lights are not the light bulb of choice for many people. but Consumer Reports' latest tests of more than 26 of the newest CFLs show the bulbs are getting better.
Testers used trays of fruit to show that CFLs do a good job mimicking the light of incandescent bulbs, but consumers still need to be careful with their purchases.
"You want to check for the Energy Star logo," Celia Lehrman of Consumer Reports said. "That means that the bulb has met strict standards for energy efficiency and durability, but also standards for color and brightness."
To get light that's like an incandescent bulb's, check the label to make sure it has a color temperature of about 2,700 K, or Kelvin.
"More Kelvins doesn't necessarily mean a brighter bulb," Lehrman said. "A bulb with 4,000 or more Kelvin is actually going to have a bluer light, not necessarily a brighter light, and that may not be what you're looking for."
For table lamps, Consumer Reports says a good choice is the 60-watt equivalent Eco-Smart bulbs from Home Depot. They cost $6 for a four-pack, and their light is like a traditional incandescent bulb.
CFLs should always be recycled because even the new ones contain some mercury, Lehrman said.
"Some of the ones we tested this year use about 60 to 75 percent less mercury than ones we tested just three years ago," she said.
Several stores now accept the bulbs for recycling, including Home Depot, Ikea, Lowe's and some Ace Hardware stores.
Source:
