|
Choosing flourescent and compact Flourescent light bulbs is not as easy as the media would have you think.
A good CF bulb depends on how you will be using it. In the garage, where the quality of the light may not be important, the cheap compact flourescent bulbs are great. Even the overhead long flourescent bulbs are fine.
Using flourescent bulbs in your home is another story.
Best Flourescent Bulbs for Home
The best flourescent bulbs are the ones that are warmer. What that means is if you look at a regular light bulb next to most CF bulbs, the CF Bulb
has a glaring blue-white color to it. The regular bulb has an almost yellow-brown color to it. That bright blue-white color has a higher kelvin number. That's meaningless to most people, but it makes skin look bad, and a room look like an industrial plant.
Kelvin Number on Flourescent Bulbs
The kelvin number may be on the base of the bulb in tiny print. My favorite, and the one my wife can't tell when I've switched out a bulb,
is 3200K. Hotel rooms use this color. They know about light.
CF Bulb Prices
The price of CF Bulbs does not tell you if it's good or bad in your home. Expensive does not mean a good light. Cheap bulbs do not mean they are
bad for your home. It's all in the little number. Look for words like "daylight", which means way too blue. "Warm" might be good, but check the numbers.
You can use these bulbs anywhere the instructions indicate. The easy ones are in open fixtures like lamps shades. I've used them in ceiling lights, but read the instructions. Some get hot.
The same light color guide applies to long bulbs. Warmer is better for the home.
Hope this helps. 
|
