Change is never easy, but a lot of us have changed the type of light bulbs we us and for good reason. Compact fluorescent bulbs, or CFLs, use significantly less energy than old-fashioned incandescent bulbs.

It's estimated that every regular bulb replaced with a CFL will save you at least $30 over the life of that bulb. And these bulbs last a lot longer than incandescent bulbs -- at least three times as long and, in many cases, even ten times as long.

CFLs still cost more than regular bulbs, but they've really come down in price.

You can expect to pay around $2 a bulb and if you shop around, you can find the small ones for 99 cents. So price is no longer an object.

We use a lot of CFLs at my house in lamps, recessed lights, lanterns and in the garage. I put the installation date on each one, and I've found that they generally last 10,000 hours or more.

Remember, when CFLs burn out, they do not go in the trash; they need to be properly recycled. That's because they contain a tiny amount of mercury.

You can bring old, unbroken CFL bulbs to any Home Depot store. IKEA recycles them, so do many McLendon Hardware stores.

I noticed a lot of those bulbs are brownish. Did they catch fire? No, that's how CFL bulbs sometimes burn out. They get dim, they can flicker and sometimes get brown around the base.

A lot of people are turned off by the type of light these bulbs give off -- the harsher, white light. You now have more choice in that area. You just have to know how to read the package. You want to look for the color temperature:

• Whiter (Blue Light) -- 3,500 to 6,500 Kelvin, "natural" or "daylight"
• Warmer (Yellow color) -- 2,700 to 3,000 Kelvin, "soft" or "warm"

If you drop a CFL bulb and it breaks, don't panic. Yes, there is mercury inside, but there is a way to safely clean up the mess.

Clear the room for 15 minutes, open an window and shut off any air-conditioning or heating.

Then follow the guideline from the EPA:

1.  Carefully scoop up glass pieces and powder using stiff paper or cardboard.
2.  Place them in a glass jar-sealed plastic bag.
3.  Use sticky tape, such as duct tape, to pick up any remaining small glass fragments and powder.
4.  Wipe the area clean with damp paper towels or disposable wet wipes.
5.  Place towels in the glass jar or plastic bag.

*Do NOT use a vacuum or broom to clean up the broken bulb on hard surfaces.

More Information:

Switch to fluorescent bulbs and start saving energy

What to Do if a Fluorescent Light Bulb Breaks