LEARN MORE AT energystar.gov ENERGY STAR58, a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and U.S. Department of Energy program, helps us all save money and protect our environment through energy efficient products and practices. For more information, visit www.energystar.gov. Qualified Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs (CFLs) AT A GLANCE What is ENERGY STAR? • The U.S. government-backed symbol of energy efficiency. • A program dedicated to identifying products that save energy without sacrificing quality or performance. Why Buy ENERGY STAR Qualified CFLs? Save energy • Qualified CFLs use about 75% less energy and produce about 75% less heat than standard incandescent bulbs. Save money • Over the lifetime of the CFL, saves more than $30 in electricity costs. Save the environment • By using less energy, qualified CFLs reduce greenhouse gas emissions caused by burning fossil fuels at power plants. Longer lasting • On average, last up to 10 times longer than standard incandescent bulbs—convenient for hard to reach fixtures. Quality light output • Available in a variety of color temperatures, such as soft white, cool white, or daylight. Manufacturers are required to label products if the light output is different than that of a soft white incandescent. Customer FAQs: Q: How are ENERGY STAR qualified CFLs different than other CFLs on the market? A: Qualified CFLs are different because they've been tested to meet stringent energy efficiency and performance criteria. They are required to meet standards for minimum product life, maximum start-up and warm-up time, color rendering, and other quality control measures. Each qualified CFL comes with a two-year warranty for residential use. Q: Why are ENERGY STAR qualified CFLs more expensive than incandescent bulbs? A: Qualified light bulbs are actually less expensive in the long run. What you save in energy and bulb replacement costs overtime more than makes up for the difference in the initial cost. Q: Do CFLs provide the same amount of light as incandescent bulbs? A: To get the right amount of light, choose a qualified CFL bulb that offers the same light output, or lumen rating, as the bulb you are replacing. A 60 Watt incandescent bulb, for example, produces 800 lumens. By selecting a 13 Watt qualified CFL that produces 800 lumens, you'll get the same amount of light output as the 60 Watt, but use about 75% less energy. Q: Since CFLs contain mercury, should I be concerned about using them in my home? A: CFLs are safe to use in your home. Although they do contain a small amount of mercury (roughly equivalent to the tip of a ball-point pen), no mercury is released when the bulbs are intact or in use. Because CFLs contain even a small amount of mercury, they should be recycled when possible. Visit www.epa.qov/bulbrecvclinq for local recycling options. To LEARN MORE about ENERGY STAR and Qualified Products: Visitwww.energystar.gov/training or call 1-888-STAR-YES (1-888-782-7937) ------- |