It seems as if CFL technology is always being reborn with new and exciting energy-saving features. It's strange to consider that the bulbs have been on the market for more than two decades.

Osram Sylvania is marking the 25th birthday of the modern compact fluorescent bulb. Born on April 17, 1985 in Hanover, Germany, the technology has been lighting homes for years. When they first hit store shelves, CFLs were eight inches long and consumed 20 watts of energy.

Like fine wine, compact fluorescent lights have improved with age. Today, the Sylvania Living Spaces CFL is half the size of the 1985 model. It provides 75 percent energy savings and delivers a higher quality of light than its former CFL counterparts.

CFLs may have been born in the 80s, but it wasn't until the turn of the century that they became popular with businesses and homeowners. From 2001 to 2009, CFL bulbs sales in the United States increased from 57 million bulbs to more than 273 million.

Moreover, the 2009 Sylvania Socket Survey found that more than 70 percent of American households have at least one CFL bulb.

In light of the upcoming ban on incandescent light bulbs, consumers will be buying some energy-saving light bulbs in the near future. Why not buy a CFL in honor of its upcoming birthday? You can see for yourself how much it's matured.