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Do compact fluorescents and dimmers mix?

Q: What type of dimmer will work with compact fluorescent lightbulbs?

Ralf Emerson, Minot, ND

A: Clifford A . Popejoy, a licensed electrical contractor from Sacramento, California, replies: Actually, the question should read the other way around: Which compact fluorescent bulbs can be used with a dimmer? I know of a couple: General Electric’s Longlife Plus Soft White Energy Saving Bulb (www.ge.com) and Greenlite’s Dimmable Spiral (www.greenliteusa.com). GE also makes a compact fluorescent dimmable floodlight, and TCP (www.tcpi.com) has a couple of dimmable recessed can lights (both new and retrofit). These products are available through Energy Federation Inc. (800-876-0660; www.efi.org).

Not all compact fluorescent bulbs can be used with a dimmer. Dimmable energy-efficient bulbs are made by Greenlite, General Electric, and TCP, among others. Compact fluorescents use up to 70% less energy than standard incandescents. Photo by: Krysta S. Doerfler

From Fine Homebuilding 181, pp. 104 September 1, 2006