Save Energy
CFLs use roughly 1/4 as much energy as incandescent bulbs. This means that you can light a 60 watt
fixture using as little as 13 watts of electricity. Lighting accounts for about 15% of total residential energy
consumption in the U.S., and 23% of commercial consumption, so making some updates can really reduce your energy
consumption in a meaningful way.
Save Money
As mentioned above, CFLs can save a significant amount of energy. This also translates into some serious cost
savings as well. The EPA estimates that the average CFL pays for itself in just 6 months. Below is a chart that
includes average savings based on rates of 10 cents per kilowatt hour and 20 cents per kilowatt hour, but
regardless of what you’re paying for electricity, reduced consumption is good news for your wallet.
| Incandescent |
CFL |
Lumens |
Cost Savings ($0.10/kWh) |
Cost Savings ($0.20/kWh) |
CO2 Savings (lbs) |
| 40W |
11-12W |
> 490 |
$39-$44 |
$78-$88 |
507-572 |
| 60W |
13-18W |
> 900 |
$62-$68 |
$124-$136 |
806-884 |
| 75W |
19-22W |
>1,200 |
$76-$83 |
$152-$166 |
988-1,079 |
| 100W |
23-26W |
>1,750 |
$107-$112 |
$214-$224 |
1,391-1,456 |
| 150W |
38-42W |
>2,600 |
$163-$169 |
$326-$338 |
2,119-2,197 |
Save the Environment
The U.S. is the largest consumer of electricity, and roughly 70% of that electricity is generated using fossil
fuels (natural gas, coal, petroleum). Only 7% is generated from renewable sources such as hydroelectric, wind, and
solar. This means that your decision to reduce consumption in your home or business has a real impact on the environment.
It only takes one CFL in each American household to save enough energy to light more than 3 million homes for a year,
save about $700 million in annual energy costs, and prevent 9 billion pounds of greenhouse gas emissions per year,
equivalent to the emissions of about 800,000 cars.
Get More Light
One secondary benefit of CFLs that people don’t often realize is that they can be an excellent solution to a
“too little light” problem. If you aren’t getting enough light out of your 60 watt fixture, for example, you can
switch to a 23 watt CFL. This will give you the equivalent of 100 watts in light output without exceeding the
maximum wattage of your lamp, which can be dangerous.
For more information about making the switch to CFLs, see “How to Pick a Better Bulb” in the “Helpful Resources”
section below. If you still have questions about what would best fit your lighting needs, contact one of our lighting
specialists at 888-455-2800.