Is it ok to touch compact fluorescent bulbs during installation?

The only bulbs you have to be concerned about oily fingerprints on, is halogen bulbs, because they get so hot. If you touch a halogen bulb with a bare finger, the oil residue will actually create a hot spot on the glass, causing the bulb to burn out faster.

CFL bulbs do not get very warm, so this is not a problem for them.

HOWEVER - you should be aware that the 'average life span' rating on CFL bulbs is somewhat misleading. Most of these bulbs are rated to last several years - but that is ONLY if you use them a few hours per day! Read the fine print, it's there. In my house, we have lights on 24 hours a day, because someone is always up - needless to say, our CFL's do NOT last years, heheheh.

You will also find that cold temps will affect a CFL's operation. If a CFL is located in a cold environment (whether inside or out), you will find that it takes a while for it to come up to its full brightness, it will start off very very dim. So don't use a CFL in an outside light fixture, a cold garage, etc.

And don't forget to recycle the CFL bulbs! Do NOT just throw them in the trash.... mail them to the recycling address provided on the original package. (I save the individual packing boxes for this purpose, and mail off several at a time).

Good Luck

Yes you don't have to worry about oil from your skin on these bulbs. It's Halogen bulbs you have to worry about.

It's okay to touch them. Just make sure that they are off for a while. In many cases these bulbs get hotter than regular incandescent bulbs. Make sure that you don't break them and dispose of them properly. They contain Mercury and they are very unhealthy. By the way, did you know that the whole cool CFL light bulb thing is a scam. They waste more energy than incandescents, they get hotter at the base, causing your electric bills to rise during air conditioning season and they are very dangerous for the environment if not properly disposed of. This is just another "Go Green" scam that Al Gore, Barack Obama and all their crony czars are lying to the nation about. They waste more energy, they cost more money, they don't last long and they are dangerous to the environment. Oh yeah, the whole global warming thing is a money making ponzy scam too. I live in Chicago. Years ago we used to have Weeks of 90+ degree temperatures during the summer. We haven't had a hot summer in over 10-years. You call that global warming? I am an electrician and an EPA Certified HVAC Master Technician. Trust me, specially if you have small children. Get rid of all the CFLs in your home and go back to incandescent. Lets put america back to work and stop lining Al Gore's pockets.

go ahead and touch them you won,t reduce the bulb life.