Flourescent tubes (which low energy lamps are made of) draw very little power. The amounts are in fact so tiny that the static electricity from your touch can light them up. I know two lamps where a stroke on the cover generates a dim but clearly visible light from the tubes inside. (I was rather surprised by the effect first time I saw it)
If you can get more than just a faint light from the lamp by touching it, something is probably very wrong. (The only thing I can think of is that the switch breaks the neutral instead of the hot, leaving the lamp "live". Perhaps it would then act like the "neon pen" one use to check polarity.) If it lights up without you touching it, the switch is probably broken. (If it behaves like this and the switch is not broken, you have a serious wiring fault somewhere.)
[This message has been edited by C-H (edited 11-06-2002).]
