Shopping for a new light fixture for a high-use area of your home, such as a living room, bedroom or dining room? Consider the benefits of a compact fluorescent torchiere.

Compact fluorescent torchieres have been available in the United States for several years but are relatively new to the Canadian market. Still, their energy efficiency and safety features make them the top choice among torchiere fixtures, which are also available in halogen and incandescent models.

While halogen torchieres are currently the most common type, they are also the most expensive to operate, typically requiring lamps of 300 to 600 watts. The average energy consumption for a standard incandescent torchiere is 150 watts. Compact fluorescent torchieres, on the other hand, can produce the same amount of light using only a 55-watt compact fluorescent lamp.

Translated into cold, hard cash, the savings are impressive. Installing a compact fluorescent torchieres will save you about $36 a year in electricity costs compared to a halogen torchiere, and $14 compared to an incandescent fixture (assuming four hours of operation a day and an electricity cost of $0.10 per kilowatt-hour). To maximize your savings, make sure you use ENERGY STAR qualified compact fluorescent lamps in your new compact fluorescent torchiere.

Compact fluorescent torchieres also address the safety concerns associated with halogen torchieres, whose high-wattage bulbs can generate enough heat to ignite curtains and other combustible materials.

Last but not least are the environmental benefits of a compact fluorescent torchiere. By using less energy than a halogen torchiere, fewer greenhouse gas emissions are emitted, contributing to climate change. The Government of Canada has challenged all Canadians to reduce their personal greenhouse gas emissions by about 20 percent per year, and purchasing compact fluorescent torchieres and other energy-efficient lighting is a great way to get started.

For more information on energy-efficient lighting and other ENERGY STAR qualified 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 Publications, Office of Energy Efficiency, c/o S.J.D.S., Gatineau, Quebec J9J 3N7.