It's usually cost-effective to turn off fluorescent lights if you plan to leave them off for 15 minutes or longer, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. However, this time frame may vary depending on the cost of electricity in your area.
The amount of energy you save by turning off fluorescent lights depends on how many W the bulb uses. For example, a bulb that uses 40 W to produce light consumes 40 kilowatt-hours per hour.
Many people believe that fluorescent lights require a lot of energy to turn on. Although fluorescent lights use slightly more energy when they are first turned on, this energy use is equivalent to about five seconds of leaving the light on.
Always turn off incandescent lights, even if you're only leaving the room for a minute. Incandescent lights use more energy than fluorescent lights and cost less to replace.