Editing Compact fluorescent lamp (section)

== Use and adoption ==
{{Main|Phase-out of incandescent light bulbs}}
[[File:E27 CFL Philps.jpg|thumb|upright|An E27 Philips 5 watt CFL|220px]]
CFLs are produced for both [[alternating current]] (AC) and [[direct current]] (DC) input. DC CFLs are popular for use in [[recreational vehicle]]s and [[off-the-grid]] housing. Various [[aid agency]] initiatives exist in [[developing countries]] to replace [[kerosene lamp]]s, which have associated health and safety hazards, with CFLs powered by batteries, [[Photovoltaics|solar panels]] or [[wind power]] generators.<ref name="Kerosene_replacement">200 0000+ solar powered kerosene-lamp replacements assisted by aid agencies: http://www.ashdenawards.org/winners/mpgvm {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110511132800/http://www.ashdenawards.org/winners/mpgvm |date=2011-05-11}}, http://www.ashdenawards.org/winners/Dlight10 {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100708180531/http://www.ashdenawards.org/winners/Dlight10 |date=2010-07-08}}, {{cite web |url=http://www.unescap.org/esd/bazaar/documents/PPT-Sunlabob-LaoPDR.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=2010-06-30 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110512172914/http://www.unescap.org/esd/bazaar/documents/PPT-Sunlabob-LaoPDR.pdf |archive-date=2011-05-12}}</ref>

Due to the potential to reduce electric consumption and pollution, various organizations have encouraged the adoption of CFLs and other efficient lighting. Efforts range from publicity to encourage awareness, to direct handouts of CFLs to the public. Some electric utilities and local governments have subsidized CFLs or provided them free to customers as a means to reduce electric demand; and so delay further investments in generation.

In the United States, the ''Program for the Evaluation and Analysis of Residential Lighting'' (PEARL) was created to be a watchdog program. PEARL has evaluated the performance and Energy Star compliance of more than 150 models of CFL bulbs.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lrc.rpi.edu/programs/PEARL/index.asp |title=Program for Evaluation and Analysis of Residential Lighting (PEARL): Programs: LRC |publisher=Lrc.rpi.edu |access-date=2012-07-15 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120724014244/http://www.lrc.rpi.edu/programs/PEARL/index.asp |archive-date=2012-07-24}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lrc.rpi.edu/resources/newsroom/pdf/2007/PEARL8511.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=2010-04-20 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100613111134/http://www.lrc.rpi.edu/resources/newsroom/pdf/2007/PEARL8511.pdf |archive-date=2010-06-13}}</ref>

The UN Environment Programme (UNEP)/Global Environment Facility (GEF) initiative has developed "The Global Efficient Partnership Program", which focuses on country-led policies and approaches to enable the implementation of energy-efficient lighting, including CFLs, quickly and cost-effectively in developing and emerging countries.

In the United States and Canada, the [[Energy Star]] program labels lamps that meet a set of standards for efficiency, starting time, life expectancy, color, and consistency of performance. The intent of the program is to reduce consumer concerns due to variable quality of products.<ref>''[http://www.energystar.gov/ia/partners/prod_development/revisions/downloads/cfls/Criteria_CFLs_V4.pdf Energy Star Program Requirements for CFLS Partner Commitments]'', 4th edition, dated 3 July 2008, retrieved 2008-06-25.</ref> Those CFLs with a recent Energy Star certification start in less than one second and do not flicker. ''Energy Star Light Bulbs for Consumers'' is a resource for finding and comparing Energy Star qualified lamps. There is ongoing work in improving the "quality" ([[color rendering index]]) of the light.{{citation needed|date=March 2016}}

In the United States, new standards proposed by the [[United States Department of Energy]] could result in [[LED lamp]]s replacing CFLs. In the opinion of Noah Horowitz of the [[Natural Resources Defense Council]], most CFL bulbs would not meet the standards.<ref>{{cite news |last=Wolverton |first=Troy |date=2016-03-12 |title=Be prepared to say goodbye to the lightbulbs you've loved |work=[[The Charlotte Observer]] |agency=[[San Jose Mercury News]] |page=1C}}</ref>

In the [[United Kingdom]], a similar program is run by the [[Energy Saving Trust]] to identify lighting products that meet energy conservation and performance guidelines.<ref name=est>{{cite web|url=http://www.energysavingtrust.org.uk/Energy-saving-products/Energy-saving-lightbulbs-and-fittings |title=Energy saving lightbulbs |publisher=Energysavingtrust.org.uk |access-date=2012-07-15 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110726071543/http://www.energysavingtrust.org.uk/Energy-saving-products/Energy-saving-lightbulbs-and-fittings |archive-date=2011-07-26}}</ref>

The G24 (624Q2) and [[GU24 lamp fitting]] socket systems were designed to replace the traditional lamp sockets, so that incandescent bulbs are not installed in fixtures intended for energy efficient lamps only.