Q: Why is the incandescent bulb being phased out?
A: Its energy inefficiency has long been faulted as a reason for high electricity costs and the emission of greenhouse gases. With advanced lighting technology like CFLs and LEDs being developed at lightning speed (pun intended), there's no need to continue to pay more money to waste more energy by using incandescent bulbs. Plus, governments around the world--including in the U.S. in 2007--are passing energy legislation that will eventually phase out the use of most types of incandescents. Q: What are compact fluorescent lamps?
A: CFLs are small fluorescent bulbs in which electricity interacts with mercury and other gases to produce light. They fit into standard light sockets and not only last up to 10 times longer than incandescent bulbs, they also use less energy to change electricity into light. While they are more expensive up front, over time CFLs reduce utility costs and help save money. Q: Are CFLs safe if they contain mercury?
A: Yes. The mercury is used to produce ultraviolet light, which is then changed into light we can see by a special coating in the lamp. The coating is inert and poses no health risk. The typical amount of mercury in a CFL is usually 3 to 4 milligrams (in comparison, a mercury thermometer contains about 500 milligrams of the metallic element), which is unlikely to pose health risks even if the bulb breaks. Keep in mind, though, that you don’t want to go out of your way to make contact with it either. Q: How likely is it that a CFL bulb will break?
A: According to trade figures, breakage rates are less than 1 percent. CFL bulbs are actually harder to break than traditional bulbs because they are often coated with plastic as a protector and, because they have a smaller diameter than traditional bulbs, they have higher stress limits. Q: What is the best way to dispose of a CFL bulb?
A: It depends. If the bulb breaks, clear the room of people and pets. Ventilate the room by opening a door or window for 15 minutes and turn off the home's central forced air or heating system; this helps dissipate any mercury vapor that may have leaked and stall its spread throughout the home. Carefully pick up bulb fragments and dust (be sure to wear rubber gloves) and store the debris outside the home in an air-tight trash container until it can be disposed of properly. Check with local and state authorities on the preferred disposal method in your area. The EPA recommends avoiding vacuuming, as doing so may distribute the debris instead of picking it up. If the bulb merely reaches the end of its natural lifespan, it can either be brought back to the retailer if the company has a take-back program, or it can be disposed of through local waste management guidelines in your community. Like with paint and batteries, it's not ideal to throw out CFLs in a standard waste bin, but if no other options are available then seal the bulb in a plastic bag before placing it in the trash. Industry standards do warn against sending trash with mercury to an incinerator, so it may be necessary to find a waste facility that doesn't burn its contents. Q: What is an LED bulb?
A: An LED bulb is an eco-friendly alternative to incandescents. These bulbs house clusters of "light-emitting diodes"--or small electronic chips that glow when electricity passes through them--instead of filaments or gasses. They do not contain mercury, have a lifespan of up to 100,000 hours, and function well as directed light sources. Indoors, they're ideal for spotlighting artwork, as they don't emit ultraviolet or infrared light, which can often cause fading and other material damage. Outdoors, their durability and low-maintenance costs make them useful for lighting sidewalks, driveways, paths, and patios. The up-front expense, as with CFLs, is offset over time by decreased utility costs. Q: What is a halogen lamp?
A: A halogen bulb is very similar to an incandescent bulb; the only difference is that a halogen lamp employs halogen to interact with the tungsten filament and electricity to create light. Halogen bulbs also most closely recreate the warm, white light that people have come to expect from incandescents. Unlike most CFLs and LEDs, halogen lamps are fully dimmable and are hot to the touch because of the gas. While they're also an energy-efficient alternative to incandescent bulbs, with energy savings of about 30 percent, they're not quite at the same efficiency level as CFLs or LEDs. Q: How is light measured?
A: For the purpose of light bulbs, most consumers are familiar with the term "watt," which is often misunderstood to measure a light source's output. But a watt is an indicator of how much energy the bulb consumes; "lumens" measures the amount of light produced by a light source. Instead of using the conventional way to choose a bulb by the amount of watts or wattage, lumens are an alternative way of choosing the correct lamp for a room or application. Q: How does the light emitted by alternative bulbs differ from that of an incandescent bulb?
A: CFLs in particular had a bad rap for cool colors when they first came on the market, but with recent advancements CFLs are now available in a wider and warmer variety of tones, thus more closely mimicking the warm, white color for which incandescents are known. Halogen bulbs produce extremely bright-white light due to their higher operating temperature; like incandescent bulbs, halogen lamps hit 100 on the CRI. Most LED bulbs emit light on the lower end of the CRI, so their light is often perceived on the cooler or bluer end of the spectrum, which the industry standard suggests is less than ideal in some situations. Q: Is it true that switching lights on and off uses more energy than leaving them running?
A: No. Switching on an energy-efficient bulb only uses the same amount of power as leaving it on for a minute or two. Turning the bulb on and off repeatedly may shorten a bulb's lifespan, but normal use should not do that. | 
One bulb is as good as another, right? Actually, no. Choosing the correct light bulb for your various fixtures can save energy, increase safety, and help create the right ambiance. But it's not always easy to select the right bulb. Use this guide to help determine the appropriate bulbs for your fixtures.
