consumer's point of view – are those in the availability, price and flexibility of LED and CFL alternatives to incandescent bulbs.

Compact Fluorescent Lights are the funny-looking bulbs that fit most normal lamps, though their vertical size can sometimes cause problems with lamp shades. They last about six times as long as a normal bulb, use only 25% of the power to produce the same light and are more friendly to the environment, especially when recycled.

The down side is that they contain some mercury, they take time to build up to maximum luminance and they still heat up (though much less than incandescent bulbs).

By contrast, LED bulbs are impressively efficient. They can produce the same amount of light as an incandescent bulb and use as little as 10% of the energy, they last over 40 times as long (over six times as long as a CFL), contain no mercury and are even more environmentally friendly than CFLs. They produce almost no heat, switch on instantly and are very durable.

The down side is that they cost a lot more than either incandescent or CFL bulbs and that they often need special fixtures, rather than just fitting into your existing appliances. The latter problem is slowly disappearing as manufacturers produce new bulbs with traditional screw and bayonet fittings.

Buying Tips

• Make sure you buy the right bulb for each fixture.
• If you're buying fluorescent tubes, choose the ones with electronic ballast – although they're more expensive, they perform better.
• If you have dimmer switches, make sure you buy appropriate bulbs.

Usage Tips

• Install timers, dimmers and occupancy sensors, especially if your family frequently forgets to switch off lights.
• Install focused lights wherever possible – illuminating a work space is less expensive and more efficient than lighting a whole room.
• Turn off lights you don't need.