Taking the first steps toward cutting home energy use is easy. Switch out older incandescent bulbs for new compact fluorescent versions. They use 75 percent less energy. They also last up to ten times longer so you’ll also save money over the long haul.

Early versions of CFLs were sometimes criticized for not being bright enough and costing too much. But there has been a lot of improvement. CFLs now take less time to “warm-up” to full brightness and they come in many more sizes and shapes to fit lots of different lighting needs.

Remember that they do perform better in table and floor lamps with an open flow design. Recessed lights and fixtures with dimmers require special CFL versions.

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