Everywhere I turn, people are replacing incandescent (standard) light bulbs with CFLs, so I suspect you may not need much convincing on CFLs at this date; but here's your talking points when you get trapped defending your decision in an elevator with an incandescent curmudgeon:
Pay for themselves in electricity savings in roughly half a year
To placate your curmudgeon, you can admit that the waste energy of an incandescent light (or any light), which is heat, is not wasted but goes to heat your house. In a thermostat-regulated home, this diminishes the heating energy you need; however, you are paying for electric heat, one of the most expensive sources of heat. Moreover, in the warm months of temperate climates, you may be paying to remove this heat with air conditioning! Incandescents do have their place, nonetheless.
Everywhere I turn, people are replacing incandescent (standard) light bulbs with CFLs, so I suspect you may not need much convincing on CFLs at this date; but here's your talking points when you get trapped defending your decision in an elevator with an incandescent curmudgeon: 
Paul Rodriguez makes this comment
Monday, 22 June 2009