Editing Compact fluorescent lamp (section)

===Cost===
While the purchase price of a CFL is typically 3–10 times greater than that of an equivalent incandescent lamp, a CFL lasts 8–15 times longer and uses two-thirds to three-quarters less energy. A US article stated "A household that invested $90 in changing 30 fixtures to CFLs would save $440 to $1,500 over the five-year life of the bulbs, depending on your cost of electricity. Look at your utility bill and imagine a 12% discount to estimate the savings."<ref>{{cite news |last=Lavelle |first=Marianne |date=19 December 2007 |url=https://www.usnews.com/articles/business/economy/2007/12/19/faq-the-end-of-the-light-bulb-as-we-know-it.html |title=FAQ: The End of the Light Bulb as We Know It |work=[[U.S. News & World Report]]}}</ref>

CFLs are extremely cost-effective in commercial buildings when used to replace incandescent lamps. Using average U.S. commercial electricity and gas rates for 2006, a 2008 article found that replacing each 75 W incandescent lamp with a CFL resulted in yearly savings of $22 in energy usage, reduced [[HVAC]] cost, and reduced labour to change lamps. The incremental capital investment of $2 per fixture is typically paid back in about one month. Savings are greater and payback periods shorter in regions with higher electric rates and, to a lesser extent, also in regions with higher than U.S. average cooling requirements.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.energypulse.net/centers/article/article_display.cfm?a_id=1655 |title=The Cost-Effectiveness of Compact Fluorescents in Commercial Buildings |date=2008-01-23 |last=Chernoff |first=Harry |work=EnergyPulse |access-date=2008-03-21 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080220200101/http://www.energypulse.net/centers/article/article_display.cfm?a_id=1655 |archive-date=February 20, 2008}}</ref> However, frequent on-off cycling (turning on and off) of CFLs greatly reduces their lifespan.

The current price of CFLs reflects the manufacturing of nearly all CFLs in China, where labour costs less. In September 2010, the [[Winchester, Virginia]], [[General Electric]] plant closed,<ref name=Rourke>{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/09/07/AR2010090706933.html|title=Light bulb factory closes; End of era for U.S. means more jobs overseas|last=Whoriskey|first=Peter|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|date=2010-09-08|access-date=2011-06-02}}</ref> leaving [[Osram Sylvania]] and the tiny American Light Bulb Manufacturing Inc. the last companies to make standard incandescent bulbs in the United States.<ref>{{cite news |last=Davenport |first=Jim |date=28 March 2011 |url=http://www.nbcnews.com/id/42312925 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200313054826/http://www.nbcnews.com/id/42312925 |url-status=dead |archive-date=March 13, 2020 |title=SC lawmakers take dim view of new light bulbs |work=NBC News}}</ref> At that time, Ellis Yan, whose Chinese company made the majority of CFLs sold in the United States, said he was interested in building a United States factory to make CFL bulbs, but wanted $12.5 million from the U.S. government to do so. General Electric had considered changing one of its bulb plants to make CFLs, but said that even after a $40 million investment in converting a plant, wage differences would mean costs would be 50% higher.<ref name=Rourke />

According to an August 2009 newspaper report, some manufacturers claimed that CFLs could be used to replace higher-power incandescent lamps than justified by their light output.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/eu/6110547/Energy-saving-light-bulbs-offer-dim-future.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/eu/6110547/Energy-saving-light-bulbs-offer-dim-future.html |archive-date=2022-01-12 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |title=Energy saving light bulbs offer dim future |work=The Telegraph |date=29 August 2009 |first1=Richard |last1=Gray |first2=Julia |last2=McWatt}}{{cbignore}}</ref> Equivalent wattage claims can be replaced by comparison of actual light output emitted by the lamp, which is measured in lumens and marked on the packaging.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=MEMO/09/113 |title=Section III.3 |publisher=Europa.eu |access-date=2012-07-15}}</ref>
[[File:Compact fluorescent lamp wall mounted.JPG|thumb|Compact fluorescent lamp with wall-mounted holder]]