What to expect in Energy Star homes

By Clifford Atiyeh, Boston.com Staff

Low-wattage lighting

Not everyone likes low-wattage fluorescent bulbs. Their whiter light is harsher, they take longer to brighten, and most can't be dimmed.

In the right rooms with the proper diffusion, they work well with a fraction of the energy usage (and heat) of traditional incandescent and halogen bulbs. The numbers say it all: about 75 percent less electricity and 75 percent less heat.

Low-wattage lighting Not everyone likes low-wattage fluorescent bulbs. Their whiter light is harsher, they take longer to brighten, and most can't be dimmed. In the right rooms with the proper diffusion, they work well with a fraction of the energy usage (and heat) of traditional incandescent and halogen bulbs. The numbers say it all: about 75 percent less electricity and 75 percent less heat.
Carolyn Kaster/AP

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