A torchiere is a floor lamp that directs light upward and is then reflected off the ceiling for an indirect lighting effect. Many torchiere lamps come with halogen bulbs. Halogen bulbs produce extreme heat that wastes energy and can be a fire hazard.
Torchiere lamps are now available with safer, more energy-efficient ENERGY STAR® qualified compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs).
If you have an older style torchiere that uses halogen bulbs and you would like to start using CFLs, you must replace the entire halogen fixture. Halogen bulbs cannot be replaced with CFLs before your lamp's halogen fixture has been replaced.
Benefits of CFL torchiere floor lamps
- Efficiency: ENERGY STAR qualified compact fluorescent torchieres use up to 70 per cent less energy than halogen torchieres to produce the same amount of light
- Longevity: Compact fluorescent light bulbs last up to five times longer than halogen bulbs
- Safety: Typical halogen torchiere floor lamps can operate at extremely high temperatures. A compact fluorescent replacement is much cooler, which makes it a safer lighting option
- Money: Replace a 300-watt halogen torchiere with a 55-watt compact fluorescent torchiere and save almost $90 in electricity costs over the life of the CFL
