Choose fluorescent bulbs that last the longest and contain the least mercury. And know the best places to put them.

Incandescent bulbs (left) are a dying breed, but some of their CFL replacements (right) are better than others.

RODALE NEWS, EMMAUS, PA—Some energy- and money-saving compact fluorescent light (CFL) bulbs have mercury levels so high they can’t legally be sold in Europe. But in a new report, Environmental Working Group (EWG) discloses 7 companies that are producing safer, lower-mercury bulbs that last 2 to 3 times longer than the Energy Star requirement of 6,000 hours.

THE DETAILS: While the mercury inside CFLs usually isn’t a problem, small amounts of the neurotoxin could be released if a bulb is broken in the house or dumped in the trash instead of being properly disposed of. EWG found that certain Earthmate, Litetronics, Sylvania, Feit, MaxLite, and Philips brand CFLs contained lower mercury levels (between 1 mg and 2.7 mg), and outperformed other models, lasting 8,000 to 15,000 hours. Current Energy Star requires less than 5 mg of mercury in each bulb; EWG has criticized the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Department of Energy for failing to enact stricter Energy Star guidelines for mercury content in bulbs.

WHAT IT MEANS: Not all bulbs are created equal. Energy-sucking incandescent bulbs convert 90% of the energy they use into heat, according to the Department of Energy. CFLs can save you $80 or more on energy costs and prevent more than 450 pounds of greenhouse-gas emissions from spewing into the atmosphere. And since President Barack Obama has stated a commitment to encourage weatherization and efficient lighting in American homes, we’ll likely see more CFLs in our houses—so why not pick the ones lowest in mercury?

To see which bulbs were rated high in the EWG report, click here.

If you’d like the new administration to bring about stricter Energy Star guidelines for mercury levels in light bulbs, you can sign the EWG petition.

Here’s what you need to know about CFLs:

• They’re not for every room. CFLs usually take about 15 minutes to reach optimum lighting and efficiency, so they’re not recommended for places like closets or hallways, where the lights are usually flicked on for short periods of time. Also, keep them out of places where cleanup would be difficult, or where a broken bulb could pose a risk to those most vulnerable—children or pregnant women. CFLs aren’t recommended for playrooms and children’s rooms for that reason; consider LED or halogen energy savers for spots where CFLs aren’t suitable.

• You need a clean-up plan. A broken CFL doesn’t mean you need to call in a Hazmat team, but cleanup is a little more involved than with an incandescent bulb. EWG has developed a 10-step cleanup clean-up checklist; here are the most critical points.

1. Keep children and pregnant or nursing woman away from a contaminated area.
2. Close doors and open windows to allow mercury vapors to vent outdoors.
3. Leave the site for 5 to 15 minutes.
4. Scoop up bulb fragments and use tape to collect tiny particles.
5. Seal the waste in a glass jar with a screw-top lid.

• You shouldn’t throw them away. Even CFL bulbs stop working eventually, but because of the mercury content they should be recycled rather than tossed in the trash. You’ll find a handy recycler locator at earth911.com. Last year Home Depot began taking unbroken CFL bulbs for recycling.