Often used in task lights, these bulbs are comparable to PL, Dulux, and Biax bulbs. Brightness is measured in lumens; the higher the lumens, the brighter the bulb. Bulbs with a warm light appearance have yellow tones. Bulbs with a neutral light appearance are often used in workspaces. Bulbs with a cool light appearance have white/blue tones and are good for inspecting. A bulb’s estimated yearly cost is based on 3 hours of usage per day at $0.11 per kWh.

CFL (compact fluorescent) bulbs are energy efficient, but take several seconds to reach full brightness. They contain small amounts of mercury (for disposal information, visit www.epa.gov/cfl).