How does a compact fluorescent light bulb work? 
Fluorescent light bulbs this includes compact fluorescent are more energy efficient than regular bulbs because of how they produce light. Regular bulbs create light by heating a filament inside the bulb; the heat makes the filament white-hot, producing the light that you see. A lot of the energy used to create the heat that lights an incandescent bulb is wasted, which make it less efficient the fluorescent bulbs. A fluorescent bulb, on the other hand, contains a gas that produces invisible ultraviolet light when the gas is excited by electricity. The ultraviolet light hits the white coating inside the fluorescent bulb and the coating changes it into light you can see. With fluorescent bulbs heat is not required to create light, they are far more energy efficient than regular bulbs. By regular bulbs we mean incandescent bulbs.

What's the difference between a compact fluorescent light bulb and a fluorescent bulb? 
The primary difference is size; compact fluorescent bulbs are made in special shapes to fit in standard household light sockets, like table lamps and ceiling fixtures. Also most compact fluorescent lamps have”integral" ballast that is built into the light bulb, whereas most fluorescent tubes require a separate ballast independent of the bulb. Both types are energy efficient.

What compact fluorescent light bulb do I buy to replace regular incandescent bulb? 
While a regular light bulb uses heat to produce light, a fluorescent bulb creates light using an entirely different method that is far more energy efficient - in fact, 4-6 times more efficient. This means that you can buy a 15-watt compact fluorescent bulb that produces the same amount of light as a 60-watt regular incandescent bulb. On most packages for fluorescent bulbs it will state what it is a regular bulbs replacement in watts. Just look for the wattage you would normally buy in a regular bulb.

Here are the watts needed by regular incandescent bulbs and compact fluorescent bulbs to produce the same amount of light.

Because the wattage of a CFL bulb is much lower than that of an incandescent, you can use higher wattage CFL giving you the equivalent light of a higher wattage incandescent. For example: If your fixture says not to exceed 60 watts, you can use a 15 watt CFL to get the same amount of light as an incandescent bulb or use up to a 42 watt CFL and increase the amount of light.

Can I use a compact fluorescent light bulb with a dimmer switch? 
To use a compact fluorescent bulb on a dimmer switch, you must buy a bulb that's specifically made to work with dimmers. Also some dimmers are designed to work with fluorescent bulbs. We don't recommend using regular compact fluorescent bulbs with regular dimming switches, since this can shorten bulb life and could damage the dimmer.

Why does my compact fluorescent light bulb flicker or appear dim when I first turn it on? 
The first generation of compact fluorescent bulbs flickered when they were turned on because it took a few seconds for the ballast to produce enough electricity to excite the gas inside the bulb. There are some products available where flicker time has been shortened to 1 second.

Can I use a CFL in applications where I will be turning the lights on/off frequently? 
Yes you can but compact fluorescent light bulbs work to their best if they are left on for over 15 minutes each time they are turned on. They can take up to 5 minutes to warm-up. Frequently switching them on and off will shorten the life of the product significantly, you will not reap the financial benefits because you will be replacing them on a more frequent basis.

Can I use a compact fluorescent light bulb in an enclosed light fixture? 
Compact fluorescent light bulbs may generally be used in enclosed fixtures as long as the enclosed fixture is not recessed. We would recommend you ask the wholesaler, store you’re purchasing from or the manufactures before doing anything.

Can I use a CFL bulb outside? 
Many CFL bulbs can be used outdoors if used in an enclosed fixture. To be certain ask the wholesaler or store because the fitting has to be to a certain IP rating.

Should I be concerned about using CFLs in my home or should I take any special precautions? 
CFLs are safe to use in your home. However, CFLs are made of glass tubing which can break if dropped or roughly handled. Be very careful when removing the lamp from its packaging, installing it, or replacing it. Always screw and unscrew the lamp by its base and never forcefully twist the CFL into a light socket by its tubes.  

I have heard CFLs can overheat and smoke, is this true? 
A lot of CFLs reach the end of useful life and fail passively. In some cases, electronic components in the ballast power supply may fail may result in some smoke, odor, or discoloration (browning) of the plastic housing. The failure of some electrical components can result in an audible "sizzling" or "popping" sound. But remember if your CFLs and fittings are to BS standards you should be fine. 

What do I do with a CFL when it burns out? What is the proper disposal of a CFL bulb? 
Follow these guidelines to dispose your CFL properly:

• Like batteries, thermostats, and other hazardous household items, CFLs should be disposed of properly. Do not throw CFLs away in your household garbage if better disposal options exist. Just drop it off to our office and we will dispose of it correctly as the CFLs are not broken.
• What should I do if a CFL breaks? 
  There is such a small amount of mercury in CFLs; your greatest risk if a bulb breaks is getting cut from glass shards. Research tells us that there is no immediate health risk to anyone should a bulb break and it's cleaned up properly.