Are The New CFL Lightbulbs Really Eco Friendly?
What Are The New Light Bulbs All About?
There has been much debate in the news about the new CPL light-bulbs that are being forced upon us by the government to lower Carbon Emissions.
Some would say that we need forcing as they are more energy efficient than the old incandescent light-bulbs we know and love – but others say that they have some serious down-sides which may take years to sort out!
So, what’s what?
Compact Fluorescent Lamp’s (CFL’s)
These new light-bulbs are appearing all over the country – and they look odd! They generally take the form of chunky tubes bent into various square-ish forms and should fit into all standard light and lamp fixtures. Basically they are a scaled down version of the strip fluorescent tubes you find in kitchens and offices already (the ones that take a while to flick on and can start flashing without warning!).
They are reported to use a lot less power to run than normal light-bulbs and can last up to between 6000 – 15000, up to 15 times longer than the alternative incandescents – apparently making them justify their more expensive price tag! In theory then, creating less waste after use – and ultimately reduced manufacturing costs as we won’t need to buy them so often. They are reported to last up to 5 years with normal household use!
Running a CFL light generates less heat than an incandescent bulb, therefore reducing the need for cooling in warmer months – particularly useful in shops and offices where heat can affect products.
In the EU, CFL’s are rated as either A or B in their energy rating system (ie – the most energy efficient in their class), with halogen bulbs getting a D-rating, and the old incandescents getting and E or F-rating! They are reported to use as little as 20% of the energy of a standard light-bulb – so reducing running costs of offices and retail outlets greatly!
However, it’s not all good news. There are many downsides to these new light-bulbs and suddenly the balance of energy-saving and environmental problems clash somewhat!
What’s Not So Hot?
Well, for a start it is believed that LED lighting is the next best thing - they are safer, brighter, faster, last longer and are more energy-efficient than the CFL’s – So why are we settling for 2nd best? Why not just focus on the best one rather than filling the gap with a temporary solution?
Secondly – the CFL bulbs contain mercury. Now, they report that it is only equivalent to the plastic bit at the end of a biro, but the light-bulbs themselves are only small – so in my book that is still a lot! And mercury is toxic as we all know.
Now – there is mercury in the fluorescent strip bulbs already, and we use those all over the place – but these are in our bedrooms and lounges now – and do we want the risk? The industry is trying to reduce this for the next generation bulbs – but of course, you won’t need those until 2014 will you!
Obviously, if they are used correctly in their fixtures – the mercury will not cause you any risk. However, if they break in your home, or you throw them in you trash – they can present a ‘small risk’ to your health! The UK Energy Savings Trust say that this is negligible and mercury is released into the atmosphere when generating the coal-fired energy to power your old wasteful (and your new) light-bulbs. Basically it’s an equal trade-off for the environment, but a bit more risky for the individual.
Alternatively, Recolight advise that there is a risk to health and that you should wear rubber gloves when handling broken bulbs, not to inhale dust, ventilate the room and most importantly: do not vacuum it up! Why? Because the mercury will get blown about the room and some will remain in the filter – spewing out every time you use it afterwards!!!!
Go to Maine’s Environmental Site for a more detailed advice list for dealing with a broken bulb, including washing your hands and face thoroughly and even replacing the carpet if young children or pregnant women may come in contact with it!! Scary stuff…..
There are not really efficient systems in place to recycle these bulbs once they are spent either, and some experts say the technology to do so is years away. Current estimations say that up to 75% of CFL bulbs are thrown away in the normal trash – releasing the mercury – and creating more damage than the energy they save! Experts also advise that you contain your broken and unbroken bulbs in air-tight glass jars while transporting them to avoid mercury release…..
You can give your bulbs back to a number of stores though for recycling and disposal, including Home Depot and Ikea. Check the EPA website or your National Environmental Agency for more advice on disposal near you. Some private companies can collect bulk amounts at some cost to you though.
Finally, they only work at their most efficient if they stay on for longer than 15 minutes at a time! If you have one in your bathroom or closet that goes on and off within just a few minutes – you can actually shorten it’s lifespan by up to 85% – basically back to where a normal light-bulb would be – except you paid more for this one!
Also, due to their internal workings, you need to buy a specific type to work with dimmer switches, motion sensor and linked systems as they flash or change brightness as and when they please! They can also buzz and flicker – annoying some people more than others – and they give some people a head-ache!
So, although I will be replacing my old light-bulbs with an appropriate CFL bulb – Roll on LED lighting I say!!
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Tags: are new cfl's safe, cfl, coal-fired energy, compact fluorescent lamps, energy, energy saving, energy saving idea, energy saving lightbulbs, lightbulbs, mercury, new lightbulbs, recycle lightbulbs, save energy, what are cfl
April 7th, 2009 at 11:06 pm
Numerous cities & counties in AZ have begun offering CFL recycling by using the elampinator for their fluorescent lamps…perhaps you should look into it at http://www.elampinator.com and become the environmental hero!
April 8th, 2009 at 7:21 pm
Nice write-up, thanks for sharing.
November 8th, 2009 at 12:20 am
It’s worth noting the alledged rating in comparison with normal bulbs is only true when brand new, within a year it’s well below – turning on/off often really shortens it too. Many find the light quality & microflicker miserable & some respond badly to the uv emitted. All in all forcing these bulbs on us (EU) has cost a fortune, lined a few pockets & very possibly caused more damage than good. A few more years and LED was going to start to surface & will very likely take over. Like a lot of Green ideas it maybe well meaning but half baked – technology that really works takes over (ex. digital photography) without green subisdies, without curtailing choice and green doom mongering & bullying.