Advantages of CFL Lamps

Fits into Traditional Sockets

• Some fluorescent lights, such as "straight-tube" lighting, require a special ballast to work properly. This type of fluorescent lighting is common in kitchens or office buildings. On the other hand, CFLs are small, compact and can fit into the same sockets of traditional incandescent bulbs. This makes them easy to use and practical for replacement.

Energy Efficiency

• Incandescent light bulbs have remained relatively unchanged for over a century, operating on a tungsten filament, which wastes 80% of its energy in the form of heat as opposed to light. Compact fluorescent lamps can increase energy efficiency drastically, as they operate with close to 75% more efficiency as compared to their incandescent counterpart.

Lifespan

• In the world of fluorescent bulbs, CFLs have a fairly short lifespan. Straight-tube fluorescent bulbs can operate up to 24,000 hours and circline lamps last around 12,000 hours; CFLs will max out at about 10,000 hours. Although this might seem short, it is still far longer than incandescent bulbs, which will generally burn out after 1,000 to 2,500 hours of use.

Cost

• A main advantage of CFL lighting relates to cost. The initial cost of CFLs as compared with incandescent bulbs is high, often costing from $5 to $10 more, as of 2011. The key advantage comes in operational long-term cost, in which CFLs outperform incandescent lights. The operational cost, including both energy-efficiency and lifespan, amounts to about $30 in savings over the lifespan of the bulb when contrasted with a common incandescent light bulb.