Avoid the amalgam CFLs - they get more on/off cycles before they go kaput, but are allowed up to 3 minutes to reach full output and still get an energy star rat

Avoid the amalgam CFLs - they get more on/off cycles before they go kaput, but are allowed up to 3 minutes to reach full output and still get an energy star rating. The rest of the energy star rated CFLs are supposed to reach full output within a minute.