CFL Fact Sheet

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Did you know?

Invented in 1879, the incandescent lightbulb has changed little in over 125 years. Incandescent bulbs turn 90% of the energy used into heat, and only 10% of the energy into light.

It's Easy To Fix

Compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs, or "twisters") offer many benefits over old-style incandescent lighting.

Modern fluorescent technology offers the following benefits:

Savings Twisters generally use 75% less energy and money than incandescent lighting.

Better Color Compared to earlier technologies, modern fluorescent twisters offer a higher quality of light and better color rendering. The bulbs are also offered in various color temperatures.

Less Heat Because twisters use 90% of the energy to produce light, very little heat is generated, which reduces cooling costs.

Higher Quality – Longer Lasting Fluorescent bulbs can produce high-quality light up to 8 times longer than standard incandescent bulbs.

Many Styles Available Fluorescent bulbs are now available for almost any application, including (but not limited to), track lighting, candelabra fixtures, recessed fixtures, some dimming fixtures, bathroom vanity fixtures, and outdoor lighting.

Try Twisters

EnergyStar® CFLs are readily available in Yolo County. Prices range from $3 and up (per bulb), and may be cheaper if an instant utility rebate is in effect. The bulbs can be purchased at most local hardware, drugstore, or home supply stores in Yolo County.

How to Use
Install your new twisters in any socket where you currently use incandescent lights. Twisters take a moment to ‘warm-up,’ but once they are fully charged they provide the same high-quality light as an incandescent bulb at a fraction of the cost. YEEP recommends installation of twisters in open fixtures. If they are installed in enclosed fixtures or downlight "cans", temperature build-up may reduce the life of the bulb. Most CFLs are not recommended for use in dimmable fixtures.

Disposal and Recycling
Your new twister bulbs contain mercury, a material that should not be released into the environment. When your twister is no longer functional, please dispose of the bulbs through the Yolo County Hazardous Waste Roundup. Call the Yolo County Landfill information line at 530-666-8729 for upcoming dates and directions.

Examples of the CFL styles available:

R-30 for Track Lights & Recessed Fixtures
PAR-38 for Outdoor Floodlights
Bathroom Vanity Fixtures
The Incandescent Look

YEEP is funded by the ratepayers of California under
the auspices of the California Public Utilities Commission.