• Buy quality bulbs. Sometimes you really do get what you pay for and  CFL bulbs are at the top of that list (right after diapers and dishwashers). The cheap ones are cheap for a reason. Usually the ballast – which is responsible for regulating the electricity that flows through the bulb –  is inferior resulting in flickering, buzzing and an all-around shorter life. Go with Sylvania, Phillips or GE for tried-and-true brands.

• CFL bulbs perform best where they will be on for at least 15 minutes. Frequently switching the light on and off drastically shortens the life of a CFL bulb making it less than ideal for bathrooms, closets and motion-activated lamps.

• Choose the right kind of CFL. If someone complains that CFL bulbs made his dining room feel like a prison yard or turned his living room into a dingy cave, he probably chose the wrong bulb. Do a little research to find out which CFL is best for your fixture. Here’s an interactive resource to make things easier.

• Use CFL bulbs specifically made for ceiling fans in your fan light fixture. Regular CFLs can’t withstand the vibrations from the rotating fan blades and will fail early.

• Properly recycle the CFL bulb. CFLs require a small amount of mercury to function. Thus they must be recycled properly so they don’t end up in a landfill where the mercury can leach into the soil and contaminate the local groundwater and food chain. Find a recycling point in the Madison, WI area.

Photo courtesy of Digitalart