Recognizing its energy-saving potential, Santee Cooper has been promoting use of the CFL bulb to its customers since 2006 and last year gave away approximately 800,000 of the swirly bulbs to its residential customers.

“At Santee Cooper, we’re consistently telling our customers that switching to CFLs is one of the easiest and most effective ways they can reduce their energy consumption and, in turn, reduce their power bills,” says Vice President of Retail Operations Zack Dusenbury. “People are familiar with the different types of incandescent bulbs, and so we’re trying to demystify the CFLs.”

In light of that, here are some tips and tidbits to boost your CFL IQ:

CFLs produce light differently than incandescent bulbs. In an incandescent bulb, light is produced by an electric current that runs through a wire filament. In a CFL, an electric current is driven through a tube that contains argon and a small amount of mercury vapor. This generates invisible ultraviolet light that excites a fluorescent coating on the inside of the tube, which then emits visible light.

Because they are subject to high standards for qualities like brightness, color, bulb life and energy use, Consumer Reports magazine recommends only CFLs that are certified by Energy Star.

For the consumer who is accustomed to incandescents, it might take some time to warm up to CFLs, literally. Where most incandescents take less than a second to reach full brightness, CFLs take between 25 seconds and 3 minutes. According to the Lighting Research Center (LRC), the slow start-up time allows CFLs to maintain constant light output while they’re operating.

Energy Star discourages the use of CFLs in light fixtures that are on for less than 15 minutes at a time, such as in closets. Furthermore, Energy Star says CFLs are sensitive to extreme temperatures and should be placed in open fixtures indoors.

Energy Star recommends flood/reflector CFLs for recessed lighting and globe bulbs in vanity strips or pendant fixtures. There are special CFLs for dimmers and three-way switches, as well. Most photocells, motion sensors and electric timers are not designed to work with CFLs, so Energy Star and recommends you check with the manufacturer of the control for compatibility.

CFLs produce light differently than incandescents, and so they give off a slightly different glow. Because of this, LRC recommends using the “Divide by 3 Rule” when replacing your incandescents. (For example, replace a 60-watt incandescent with a 20-watt CFL.) LRC cautions color consistency still can vary from bulb to bulb.

To achieve the ideal brightness, Consumer Reports reminds you to check the lumens. Watts are a measurement of how much energy the bulb uses, but lumens measure the amount of light the bulb will provide. The magazine recommends finding a CFL that delivers as many lumens as the bulb it’s replacing but uses the fewest watts.

According to Energy Star, CFLs also give you options for your white light, which is measured on the Kelvin (K) scale. Lower Kelvin numbers mean the light appears more yellow. Higher Kelvin numbers mean the light will be whiter or bluer.

Energy Star says most CFLs are made to match the color of incandescents at 2700-3000K. For a whiter light that can be ideal for kitchens and work spaces, look for CFLs marked 3500-4100K. For a bluer light that is good for reading, look for bulbs marked 5000-6500K.

CFLs contain a very small amount of mercury, which LRC says is an essential element that helps CFLs be energy efficient. The Environmental Protection Agency urges you not to dispose of CFLs in your regular trash. Instead, contact your local municipal solid waste authority and ask about recycling options. The Home Depot takes back used, unbroken CFLs for free.

If a CFL should break, the EPA recommends you shut off your central heating and air unit (when applicable), clear people and pets from the room, and open a window for at least 15 minutes if possible. Avoid vacuuming, and scoop up larger pieces with stiff paper or cardboard; the smaller pieces can be collected with sticky tape. Wipe the area with a damp cloth, and place everything in a sealed plastic bag or sealed glass jar. In most cases, the EPA says this can be put in the trash but recommends checking first.

Finally, Energy Star-certified CFLs offer a two-year limited warranty. If your bulb burns out before it should, contact the manufacturer to inquire about a replacement. Furthermore, Energy Star would like you to bring any product failures to their attention by emailing cfl@energystar.com.

Santee Cooper is South Carolina's state-owned electric and water utility and the state's largest power producer, supplying electricity to more than 163,000 retail customers in Berkeley, Georgetown and Horry counties, as well as to 31 large industrial facilities, the cities of Bamberg and Georgetown, and the Charleston Air Force Base. Santee Cooper also generates the power distributed by the state's 20 electric cooperatives to more than 700,000 customers in all 46 counties. Approximately 2 million South Carolinians receive their power directly or indirectly from Santee Cooper. The utility also provides water to 137,000 consumers in Berkeley and Dorchester counties, and the town of Santee. For more information, visit http://www.SanteeCooper.com. For information on how Santee Cooper lives green and how you can go green, visit http://www.SanteeCooperGreen.com.