A Bulb for Every Fixture
When I was writing this column, my wife Kathy asked me if I could get a CFL
bulb for the table lamps in the family room. These lamps have 3 way switches
that allow the bulb to glow with different levels of intensity. The answer is: "Yes!"
Remember the yellow bug bulbs you would put on porch lights to reduce the
amount of moths and other night bugs? You can get yellow CFLs.
Do you have lots of recessed light fixtures? I do. I think I have over 50 of
them in my house. They burn lots of energy. You can buy special reflector CFLs
that capture all of the light and reflect it down out of the recessed fixture.
They work very well.
Bulb Temperature
An interesting side benefit of CFLs is the reduced operating temperature.
Many a house fire has been started where a high wattage incandescent bulb was
placed in a ceiling fixture. The high temperatures can actually melt the
insulation on some older wire. Once this happens it is only a matter of time
before electrical arcing starts a fire. CFLs burn at significantly lower
temperatures. The fire hazard is low or non-existent. If you have an older
closet with a bare bulb fixture, change it out immediately with a CFL. Exposed
incandescent bulbs have also started fires where clothes or boxes have fallen
against them.
Easy Access
You may find some CFLs at home centers, hardware stores or even grocery
stores. But if you want the best selection visit an electrical supply house or
better yet a specialty store that sells light fixtures. Stores like this need to
supply bulbs with the fixtures and trust me, they have so many different bulbs
you will not believe your eyes. I am talking hundreds and hundreds of different
bulbs. Just one of the CFL manufacturers has a minimum of 100 different
size/type CFLs! I guarantee you will find what you need.
