The Sheridans

Energy conscious householder Paul Sheridan is a keen advocate of energy saving lightbulbs. With a range of energy saving lightbulbs in different rooms, he's more than happy with the light they produce.

He's also keenly aware of the benefits of his bulbs. Paul said: "Energy saving bulbs use less energy, so are cheaper to use and better for the environment.

"They are much better value than traditional bulbs. An energy saving lightbulb might cost from £3 to £4, but it could save you up to £7 a year. If you add up how many bulbs you have in your house, that's quite a bit of money saved."

So, why doesn't everyone follow Paul's example and kit out their homes with energy saving bulbs? Paul said: "They probably don?t know that there are lots of different varieties now, so they might be worried about their size and appearance."

But the fact is, energy saving lightbulbs have changed - for the better. Take Paul's word for it. "They don't stick out of the top of lampshades any more and they come in all sorts of stylish shapes and sizes.

"Lots of people like to have four candle lights in the middle of a room, and the old-style energy saving lightbulbs looked a bit funny in their place. But nowadays, you can buy candle-shaped energy saving lightbulbs, and four will use less electricity than one traditional bulb.

In short, the new generation of energy saving lightbulbs is more than a match for traditional bulbs. Paul Sheridan said: "They no longer take a long time to light up and they are smaller than they used to be. They're about thinking ahead - beyond purchase costs to bigger issues like rising fuel prices and the environment."

"Plus, we haven't had to change one since we started buying them. And that's been a good few years now!"