Compact fluorescent bulbs are more energy efficient than incandescent bulbs, but some consumers and professional lighting designers pooh-pooh them for their inability to dim as dramatically as they’d like.

The softer levels are more pleasing to the eye and allow designers to create stunning effects to accentuate a home’s artwork and architecture. Not to mention the fact that the lower you can turn down the lights, the less electricity you’ll use. 

A new technology introduced by TCP, Inc., promises smoother full range dimming for CFLs. Dubbed TruDim Technology, it allows CFLs to lower from 100 percent to 1 percent in a way that more accurately matches the human eye’s reactions.

According to TCP, CFLs with TruDim will also be able to warm up quicker than other CFLs, achieving full brightness more than 75 percent faster. The new CFLs will be able to start at a low level, which will eliminate the need to reset a dimmer to full on every time the lights are turned on.

The technology will be offered initially in several lamp styles, including R30 16-watt, R20 14-1att, A-Lamp 16-watt and 14-watt, and 14-watt Globes. They will be available later this year; pricing has not yet been set.

Lisa Montgomery - Contributing Writer

Lisa Montgomery has been writing about home technology for 15 years, with a focus on the impact of electronics on a modern lifestyle.