CF Lightbulbs

In a CFL, electric current flows through a gas-filled tube, where mercury atoms become excited and release photons. The photons hit the tube's phosphor coating and it fluoresces, or emits visible light. Swap tungsten metal filament, and the filament produces light by glowing white-hot.

Most of the energy used by an incandescent bulb is shed as heat, rather than light, unlike a CFL, which remains cool to the touch. And compact fluorescent bulbs use less than a third of the energy of incandescent ones, and last ten times longer.

While CFLs cost more than incandescents, the price is quickly recouped by the reduction in your energy bill. Plus, each CFL can prevent 450 pounds of power-plant emissions over its lifetime. CFLs now come in a variety of styles and brightness and have coatings that create warmer and whiter light suitable for nearly every room in the house.

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