Energy saving light bulbs: Best Buys 
Best Buy light bulbs are bright from start-up, endure through our being on and switching tests and don't dim over their lifetimes
Use less electricity to cut your energy bills
As the phase-out of old-fashioned incandescent light bulbs continues, more and more of us will have energy-saving light bulbs in our homes.
But which ones are any good? Our in-depth tests show big differences between the best and the worst bulbs, from bulbs that give out 100% of their light straight away to one poor performing bulb which remained dark for several seconds after being switched on - useless for areas like stairs and bathrooms where you need instant brightness.
We subject three samples of all the bulbs we test to 30,000 on and off switches to see how durable they are - and see big differences. With the best performers, all three bulbs survive testing, while the worst fail at just 6,000 switches.
What Best Buy light bulbs give you
Our Best Buy light bulbs give out a good amount of light at start-up - laying to rest the common complaint that energy saving light bulbs can be dim when first switched on.
They are also durable, surviving a long time through 5,000 hours of continuous burning - the equivalent of five years' use - and 30,000 on/off switches tests.
And we measure how much light they actually emit, rather than relying on manufacturers' claims. They are efficient, saving you more money than other energy saving bulbs.
A Which? Energy Saver light bulb is a Best Buy light bulb that scored the full five stars for efficiency in our lab testing - so you know it will be efficient to run.
Why Which?
We are independent and impartial, and product reviews and recommendations are what we do. There are no ads on our site - we don't work for the manufacturers, we work for you. We test the products, and pass the results on to you. It's that simple.
More ways to save money
Joining Which? gives you access to all of our reviews and Best Buy recommendations, covering thousands of products. And if you're still baffled, you can always pick up the phone and call our helpline team for more personal advice.
Best of all, you can sample the benefits of Which? during a trial.
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