Another bright idea ...

I can't remember the last time I changed a light bulb in our house. I think I may have changed the porch light three or four years ago, but that's it -- and it's all because we switched 100% to CFLs.

Compact Fluorescent Lamps are often maligned for the color of the light they produce, the way they look, their price and their disposal requirements. Early bulbs seemed to lend a gloomy cast to a room, and the spiral shape looked awkward in exposed settings. But if you have decided that CFLs aren't for you, take another look.

According to the U.S. Department of Energy, CFLs use up to 75% less energy than incandescent bulbs of similar light level, last up to 10 times longer and produce up to 90% less heat. One bulb won't make much of a difference in your electricity bill. But think about all the lights you use in your house. Over the 10-year life expectancy of one 25-watt CFL (replacing a 100-watt incandescent), you could save up to $105. That's per bulb. And if your electricity is coal-generated, using fewer watts over time means less carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.

Enough numbers, here's why I love CFLs:

1. I can't remember the last time I changed a light bulb in the house. For real.
2. With a little experimenting, we found the right color balance, and we like it better than incandescent. Two "daylight" and one warm equal the perfect balance for reading, crafting and hanging out in the living room. We like the bluer CFLs for reading, yellower CFLs in the foyer and bedrooms. The kitchen is still a work in progress.
3. The bulbs give off little heat. In a house with no central air, this makes a huge difference in the summer.
4. CFLs come in different styles, not just the spiral, like tubes, circles, and even with casings that resemble incandescent bulbs -- and they work with our '50s vintage lamps and '30s vintage sconces.

The one downside to CFLs is getting rid of them. You cannot put them in the trash or regular recycling because they contain mercury. The lighting industry and utilities promoting CFL adoption could have done a more aggressive job of educating us on how to dispose of the bulbs, especially when they break, when the bulbs first came on the market. I made the mistake of cheerfully vacuuming up the one that broke, not realizing that is the wrong move entirely. Very detailed steps are here. They include letting the room air out, keeping people and pets away, picking up the broken pieces (using tape or damp cloth as needed), sealing the debris in a plastic bag, and taking it to the hazardous waste facility.

Using CFLs are just one step to take toward reducing your overall energy use, but it's among the simplest and easiest.

Have you made the switch?