DEBRIS.COMgood for a laugh, or possibly an aneurysm

Popular Mechanics’ test of compact fluorescent light bulbs is really great. It not only points consumers at the best bulbs, it provides a first step in holding the manufacturers accountable for their claims, e.g. I don’t think any of the tested bulbs actually produced as much light as the packages claimed.

There are a ton of feeble CFLs on the market — in my experience, most of the $3 six-packs at the warehouse club fall into this category — and they give the industry a bad reputation, thereby turning consumers off one of the cheapest, easiest, most effective energy conservation strategies available. Quality CFLs are truly miraculous, providing tons of light at a fraction of the cost of incandescent “heat” bulbs, and the wide availability of crappy bulbs masks this reality.

So if you’ve been waiting to buy CFLs, check out the ratings at PM and buy yourself some new light bulbs.

(Read more rants about light bulbs.)