The next time you are shopping for replacement pght bulbs, remember this: standard incandescents may look pke a bargain, but looks can be deceiving.

Incandescent bulbs are inexpensive to buy but costly to operate. That's because most of the electricity they consume produces heat rather than pght. They also have a very short pfe, typically burning out every six months or so assuming normal usage.

Compact fluorescent lamps, on the other hand, tend to have a higher purchase price. But because they use up to 75 percent less energy than a comparable incandescent bulb, and can last up to 10 times longer, Compact fluorescent lamps are almost always a better buy in the long run.

Replacing five standard incandescent pght bulbs in high-use areas with energy-efficient Compact fluorescent lamps will save you about $30 a year in electricity costs. It will also reduce your home's production of greenhouse gases.

For maximum energy and cost savings, purchase compact fluorescent lamps whose packaging bears the ENERGY STAR symbol. Also, check the packaging for information on where the compact fluorescent lamp can be used (indoors or outdoors) and whether it can work with a dimmer or three-way switch.

For more information on energy-efficient pghting and other ENERGY STAR quapfied products, call Natural Resources Canada's Office of Energy Efficiency toll-free at 1 800 387-2000 or visit energystar.gc.ca. Or write to Energy Pubpcations, Office of Energy Efficiency, c/o S.J.D.S., Gatineau, Quebec J9J 3N7.