A guide to selecting among new types of light bulbs

Buying a light bulb used to be easy. And it used to be something you did several times a year.

But now, "a lot of people are starting to look at light bulbs as an investment," says Jaclyn Pardini, a spokeswoman for Lowe's Home Improvement stores.

The incandescent bulbs in wide use ever since Thomas Edison received a patent for his version in 1880 are being phased out. A federal law passed in 2007 ends incandescent manufacturing and importing in the United States by the end of 2014, though stores will be allowed to keep them on shelves until they're sold out.

In their place are more energy-efficient replacements that come in a dizzying array of hues and shapes.

You'll want to choose carefully. Those CFLs might be with you for the next nine years or so. And if you spring for an LED bulb, you're really in it for the long haul.

"From the time a child enters kindergarten to the time that they graduate from college, that bulb will still work," says Pardini of LEDs.

So as those last incandescents flicker out in your lamps and light fixtures, how do you decide what will replace them? Read on:

Life: 1,000 hours

Pros: It's the warm, soft light you grew up with.

Cons: A hot-blooded energy hog. Federal law is phasing them out after 2014.

Cost: (one bulb) $2-$3; (to run for one year): $5.18

Life: 1,000-3,000 hours

Cons: You're not gaining much in life span or efficiency over incandescents.

Cost: (one bulb) $1-$2.50; (one year): $1.57

Life: 10,000 hours

Pros: Here's where energy efficiency really steps up. CFLs use two-thirds less energy than incandescents.

Cons: Early CFLs got a bad rap for being slow to warm up and casting harsh light. But they've improved a great deal. Still, you reduce the life span a bit if you turn the light on and off a lot (less than 15 minutes of on time). Using CFLs in an enclosed fixture can also reduce their life span, but some newer models have overcome this.

Disposal can be a hassle. Each CFL contains a small amount of mercury, so you need to recycle old bulbs. Several retailers offer this service, and many municipalities allow dropoff at their household hazardous waste facilities. (Check search.earth911.com for listings.)

Cost: (one bulb) $10-$30; (one year): $1.50 (see note)

Life: 20,000-50,000 hours

Pros: Extremely long life. Cutting-edge technology.

Cons: Much higher upfront cost than other bulb types. But, Pardini says, "the potential return in energy savings and your time in changing out light bulbs is far greater over time. So it's more of a longer-term investment." Like CFLs, some LED bulbs can deteriorate in the heat of an enclosed fixture, so consult the packaging.

Sources: Lowe's Home Improvement, Home Depot, energystar.gov, eartheasy.com, Consumer Reports

CFL and LED bulbs come in a variety of colors ("color temperature" is the correct term) that will really affect the look of the room you're illuminating. Here are your options, with tips on what will put each room of your home in the very best light.

Where to use: Living areas, bedrooms, dining spaces. This is the most common color temperature, and closest in color to the traditional incandescent bulb. Works well with earth tones like brown and tan.

Where to use: Office and work areas. Fine for general lighting. Works well with neutral tones like gray and beige.

Where to use: Reading areas or for display lighting. Complements bold colors like blues, greens and purples; shows color with the most accuracy.