State-of-the-Art Lighting Enviroguard (at right) The new generation of fluorescent fixtures are both attractive and energy efficient. The number of lighting options to choose from today is often mind-boggling. When all is said and done, however, the only truly energy-efficient lighting choice is fluorescent. Should the thought of a fluorescent light serve up images of a flickering tube, annoying humming sounds, and a sickly blue light, you've got a big surprise coming. Today's 32-watt 1-inch diameter tubes have electronic ballasts, which provide quiet operation and no flicker when turned on. Also, you have a wide range of choices for color temperatures, some just as warm and inviting as incandescent. Best of all, fluorescent lighting uses one-quarter the electricity of incandescent lighting, lasts up to 10 to 15 times as long, and emits less heat-not bad on the pocketbook or the environment! Ceiling-mount Urania Indirect When it comes to fluorescent lighting fixtures, most people still envision those flat, rectangular boxes hanging from the ceiling as the only option. For design flexibility, the new compact fluorescent lamp (CFL) with an integral ballast and a screw-type base can be used to replace incandescent bulbs in most of your favorite existing decorative fixtures. One disadvantage, however, is that this type of CFL does not yet work with dimmers, although that is changing in the very near future. Another drawback is that sometimes the retrofitted fixtures, which were not designed specifically for CFLs, trap the light inside the fixture rather than reflecting it outward. In this case, using CFLs of a slightly higher wattage can solve the problem. Ceiling-mount Lilla-Aurora Better yet, choose a fixture that is designed and wired specifically for a CFL. These days, concerns for green building products and state code requirements have resulted in a whole new generation of fluorescent fixtures, created for beauty as well as efficiency. These fixtures include a ballast, so the CFL won't need an integral one and will therefore be less expensive to replace. They also work with dimmers. Whatever you do with your lighting, be sure to plan ahead. Check out your options and choose wisely. A little extra thought now could result in many attractive monetary and environmental savings later on!

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