Walk through any lighting section of a home center today, and you’ll see an expanded and stylish selection of fluorescent fixtures. There’s no comparison of what you’ll see displayed to the utilitarian kitchen, bath, and laundry rooms of yesterday. You’ll find a large selection of fluorescent fixtures that meet Energy Star standards of efficiency in a range of sizes and styles that have never been so diverse, making them a good choice for any room in the house.
To replace an existing ceiling fixture with a new 36-inch, two-tube fluorescent one, an electrician will charge $241, which includes labor and material. If you have electrical skills and tools, you can make the swap for $95, the cost of the fixture, and save 61 percent. You’ll need the basics: electrical tape, a screwdriver, a pair of wire snippers and, of course, a ladder. It helps to have someone on hand to hold the old fixture you’re removing, and the new one you’re installing while you work on the ladder.
