ENERGY STAR^® Qualified Lighting Choices

From CFLs to LEDs, there are a variety of energy efficient lighting products available on the market now. Here’s a look at some ENERGY STAR qualified lighting options, their benefits and how you can use each product to light your home for less.

ENERGY STAR Qualified Compact Fluorescent Lamps (CFLs)

Thousands of New Yorkers have switched out millions of old-fashioned light bulbs for ENERGY STAR qualified CFLs. Why? Well, because they use 75 percent less energy than traditional incandescent bulbs, last up to 10 times longer than incandescent bulbs and can save up to $70 in energy costs over the life of one CFL.

Here are some other reasons to use ENERGY STAR qualified CFLs:

• Come in a variety of shapes including spiral, globe, tubed and candle
• Can be used in nearly every type of lighting fixture in your home
• Provide warm, bright or cool light
• Can be used outdoors or indoors, even in dimmers and three-way switches
• Produce 75 percent less heat, so they are safer to operate and help cut home cooling costs
• Reduce greenhouse gas emissions because they use less energy

Frequently asked questions about CFLs

Q: Do CFLs contain mercury?
A: Yes, the trace amounts of mercury in a CFL allow it to be an efficient light source. The mercury in a CFL is sealed within the glass tubing and amounts to 4 or 5 milligrams, or enough to cover the tip of a ballpoint pen. CFLs do not release mercury when the bulbs are intact or in use, however, it is important to know how to properly use, recycle and dispose of them.

Q: What about their performance?
A: When CFLs were first introduced in the 1990s, they did not perform as advertised. Improvements to the technology and testing procedures were put into place to ensure that all ENERGY STAR qualified CFLs operate as advertised. CFLs no longer flicker, hum, or buzz. They come in a variety of shapes and can be used in nearly every type of light fixture in your home. Because of their initial bad publicity, myths about CFLs still exist today. Here’s the truth about common misconceptions about the safety and quality of CFLs.

Q: Do CFLs produce a harsh blue light?
A: Many CFLs light like ordinary bulbs. Look for CFLs labeled "soft" or "warm" white for light like an incandescent's, and choose "bright white," "natural," or "daylight" for whiter light.

Q: Do CFLs flicker when they first light?
A: That happened in earlier CFLs with magnetic ballasts. New ones use electronic ballasts, which are faster.

Q: Do CFLs need time to turn on?
A: CFLs turn on instantly now.

If you’re not using CFLs yet, now is the time to make the switch while they’re available at value prices. Because of their long life, ENERGY STAR qualified CFLs are ideal for those hard to reach fixtures such as ceiling fans, other ceiling fixtures and enclosed outdoor fixtures. They also work well in floor and table lamps. Which type of CFL works best for each of these applications? Learn how to light up your home with ENERGY STAR qualified CFLs using ENERGY STAR's Choose a Light Guide.

ENERGY STAR Qualified Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs)

Lighting manufacturers are still perfecting LED technology, a type of solid state lighting, for household applications. However, more and more ENERGY STAR qualified LEDs are available each year. LEDs don’t waste energy through heat, last at least twice as long as – or more than – an ENERGY STAR qualified CFL and cost 90 percent less to run than incandescent bulbs.

Unlike the trademark spiral shape of many CFLs, LEDs often look like traditional incandescent bulbs. They can be screwed into any standard socket and offer crisp, white light. LEDs turn on instantly, do not hum or flicker when dimmed and draw no power when they are turned off.

Unlike other incandescent, halogen and fluorescent technologies that emit light in all directions, LEDs emit light in a specific direction. For that reason, LEDs work best in recessed downlights, undercabinet lighting, outdoor area lighting, cove lighting, in-cabinet lighting, adjustable task lighting and holiday lighting.

Reasons to use ENERGY STAR qualified LED decorative light strings for the holidays

• Will last longer than standard holiday lighting strings, so they save you money
• Are constructed from solid-state chips that convert electricity into light without using a filament or glass bulb
• Virtually indestructible
• If a single bulb burns out, the rest of the LED string will stay lit
• Reduce the risk of fire in your home

Try LED candles, too. They emulate the flicker of a real candle without the problems created by a real flame.

ENERGY STAR Qualified Fixtures

When it comes to lighting your home for less, consider looking beyond your light bulbs. ENERGY STAR qualified light fixtures combine quality and attractive design with the highest levels of energy efficiency available today. By replacing the five most frequently used light fixtures in your home with ENERGY STAR qualified models, you can save up to $70 each year in energy costs. Plus, ENERGY STAR qualified fixtures:

• Use 25 percent less energy than traditional light fixtures
• Distribute light more efficiently and evenly than standard fixtures
• Come in hundreds of decorative styles including portable fixtures and hard-wired options
• Deliver convenient features such as dimming on some indoor models, as well as automatic daylight shut-off and motion sensors on outdoor models.
• Can be found at most home centers, lighting showrooms, and specialty stores
• Reduce greenhouse gas emissions because they use less energy

Popular ENERGY STAR qualified light fixtures include free-standing torchiere lamps, architectural valances and ceiling fans; as well as suspended, recessed, cabinet and under cabinet lighting.

Find ENERGY STAR qualified lighting at a retailer near you today.