In this article, researchers Rick Diamond, Mithra Moezzi, and Evan Mills of Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory's Environmental Energy Technologies Division review the myths and then lay out the facts. When my appliance is turned off, it's off. These products draw power 24 hours a day, often without the knowledge of the consumer.
Fluorescent lighting is unhealthy.
Fluorescent lighting has changed dramatically in the last few years. Today's fluorescents have greatly improved color quality. And the annoying flicker has been eliminated from fluorescents that use electronic ballasts. Of course, fluorescent are more efficient than standard incandescent lighting. Because they require less electricity, fluorescents generate less power plant pollution, emissions which have many known health effects.