CFL's

Compact Fluorescent lamps (or CFL for short) are gaining popularity , and for good reason. They use aprox 75% less energy then a regular incandescent light bulb and can save $40 over the lifetime of the bulb. Because they last up to 10x longer then traditional bulbs, the savings over an entire house can really add up. The average Canadian home has 30 fixtures which runs the home over  $200 a year to run. If you switched just 5 of these to CFL’s you would save upwards of $30 per year. This would pay for the bulbs in 2 years, yet they last for around 5 years. 

Now- consider the savings if you switched every bulb in your home to CFL’s. A lot of people think of the spiral bulbs when they picture CFL’s , however they now come in a variety of shapes and sizes as well as multiple colours. 

It is important to note that CFL’s do contain mercury so they require careful handling and disposal- They should not be put out in the regular trash. Your local Home Depot has recycling programs for your convenience.