Question about fluorescent and compact fluorescent bulbs

[Lisa0825]

10 years or so ago, I read that while it saved energy to turn off and on regular bulbs as needed, with fluorescent bulbs, they took more energy to start but less energy to stay lit, so it was better to leave them on if you would be needing to turn them on and off several times in a day. Does anyone know if this is still true with current fluorescent bulbs and if it also applies to compact fluorescent bulbs?

Thanks :)

[Warpy]

1. Debunked by Mythbusters

All light bulbs are cheaper if you turn them off. The difference for a fluorescent was under 30 seconds, so if you're leaving a room for under 30 seconds, leave the light on. The incandescent break even was under 5 seconds.

Turning them on and off doesn't affect bulb life span, either, for any type of bulb, something that surprised them on the show.

I switched to CFLs 12 years ago because I resent having to clamber up a step ladder every few months to change an incandescent bulb. Some of the bulbs I put in then are still working.

[Lisa0825]

2. Excellent, thanks!

I have regular fluorescents at work, and cfls at home. I noticed that it took a while for my cfls to get up to full brightness, so I started wondering about that again.

In this house, I used to buy regular light bulbs every month. Every single week, at least 2 bulbs had to be changed. I haven't changed one since switching to cfls over a year ago :woohoo:

[Sherman A1]

3. Switched to CFL's over a year ago

in all my fixtures. Total of 17 bulbs. I have had to replace one, guess it was a bad bulb, but that just happens once in awhile.

Everything else is going fine......

[Lisa0825]

4. Even if they didn't save energy, they'd be worth it just for saving the hassle of

having to continually change bulbs!