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10 Tips for Buying CFL Light Bulbs

Are you looking to buy new CFL light bulbs? Use these tips to help you with your next purchase.
Are you in need of new light bulbs this winter? Today, light bulbs come in several different shapes, wattages, and color temperatures, making the purchase a difficult choice. Use these ten tips to help you purchase the correct energy efficient CFL light bulb for your next home or office lighting project.
1. CFL light bulbs used on dimmer switches must be manufactured for dimmable lighting applications. These light bulbs will have packaging that notifies the consumer its safe to use in dimmable lighting fixtures.
Using dimmable CFLs in lighting applications can save the consumer additional energy and money!
2. Buying a 3-Way CFL light bulb is the proper way to yield the most efficiency from 3-Way lighting fixtures. The use of regular CFLs will work, but only at its normal level.
3. Remember a CFL may require a short warm up period to reach its maximum brightness. In order for a CFL light bulb to reach its brightest output, the internal gases must reach a predetermined temperature. The warm up period is the duration that it takes for the gases to rise to that specific temperature.
4. Did you know that CFL light bulbs can be used in closed or recessed fixtures as long as there is airflow to or around the light bulb?
5. Using outdoor light bulbs? Remember that there are types of CFL light bulbs manufactured for outdoor use. These bulbs are typically represented with the acronym, PAR (Parabolic Aluminized Reflector), which signifies that the bulb has been manufactured to handle the outdoor environments.
6. Garage door openers and Ceiling fans can vibrate at times and may cause premature failure to the CFL light bulb and its internal electronics.
7. CFL Reflectors or floodlights are available for use with indoor and outdoor lighting applications. Remember when buying CFL reflectors you will need the diameter of the bulb, the wattage, and new in 2011 the lumens required for the lighting application.
8. Looking to replace the light bulbs in your chandelier? Energy efficient decorative CFL bulbs are available for purchase.
9. CFL light bulbs are manufactured in several different temperature colors including everything from daylight white (6500k) to warm white (3000k) and soft white (2700k). Daylight white makes a great reading light while the softer warm white and soft white lights are great for bathrooms and applying cosmetics.
10. Do you have a light bulb that stays on for extended amounts of time? Outdoor post lamps, outdoor floodlights, kitchen can lights, and living room lights are just a few that might stay on for a long time. Remember CFLs are more efficient and last longer if they are not switched on and off frequently.