Efficient Lighting Lessons From TOH TV

If an efficient bulb is dimmable, it will say so on the packaging. CFLs can be dimmed to 15 to 20 percent of full brightness; LEDs are a bit better, adjustable to 10 to 15 percent. Both are a far cry from the barely there 1 percent that incandescents can achieve. If you're determined to get that glow from your efficient bulbs, switch out old dimmers for newer ones that are specially wired to work with the circuitry of these bulbs, lowering their brightness to a twinkly 1 percent. The Titlows are installing LED-compatible dimmers for their overhead kitchen lights. "We're glad to have the flexibility to turn these fixtures way down," says Becky.

Lutron's CL Dimmer is wired to work with dimmable CFLs and LEDs.