In a New Light

If you shopped for compact fluorescents a couple of years ago and rejected their crummy appearance, you may want to take another look.

“The technology keeps improving and the size, color and the light itself are getting better all the time,” says David Factor, a Los Angeles lighting consultant.

“The major companies are rolling the new technology out at a mind-boggling pace,” he says. “New generations of lights that used to take five years to get on the shelves now take months.”

He and brother Steve own Innovative Lighting Services of West Los Angeles, which works with businesses, school districts and other organizations to improve their lighting efficiency while cutting energy use.

Last month they received a trophy for being the nation’s best lighting management company in the Environmental Protection Agency’s Green Lights anti-pollution program.

“We work with commercial customers who can realize tremendous savings with energy efficient lighting,” says David Factor, “but there are a few places in every home, too, where the savings could be significant by using energy efficient bulbs.”

His advice to shoppers: Don’t go for the bargains. “You get what you pay for. A $15 price tag is a scary thing, but if you get a cheap bulb--whether compact fluorescent or incandescent--you’re going to get inferior quality. It just won’t pay.”