CFL vs. incandescent: Battle of the bulb
Why do CFLs contain mercury?
Metallic atoms are also the light source in fluorescent lamps, but they use vaporized mercury instead of a solid filament. The incoming electrical current is carried through a glass tube, straight or coiled, that's filled with mercury vapor and argon gas. The electrified mercury atoms begin vibrating and releasing invisible ultraviolet light, which in turn excites a fluorescent phosphor coating on the inside of the tube, finally producing the visible light.Does mercury overshadow CFLs' benefits?
An incandescent bulb doesn't contain mercury, but it still has a higher overall mercury footprint than a CFL, thanks to the coiled tube's renowned energy efficiency. Coal-fired power plants are humans' No. 1 source of mercury pollution, and energy-intensive incandescent bulbs require those plants to burn more coal than CFLs do. That extra coal burning releases far more mercury than even the combined amount inside a CFL and in the coal emissions needed to light it.
Are incandescent bulbs burned out?
Light(s) at the end of the tunnel
There's also a dark horse light bulb lurking in the shadows — light-emitting diodes, better-known as LEDs. These are already common in a variety of devices, ranging from the blinking red light on a video camera to the green power button on a computer. LEDs are more efficient, versatile and long-lasting than either incandescent or fluorescent lights, emitting light in a specific direction rather than radiating it outward indiscriminately, which wastes energy. They also absorb back what little heat they produce into an internal heat sink, leaving the LED itself cool to the touch.- Energy Star: CFLs Buyers Guide
- Energy Star: CFL Savings Calculator
- Energy Star: How CFLs Work
- Energy Star: CFLs and Mercury
- EPA: Mercury Health Effects
- EPA: Mercury-Containing Light Bulb Recycling
- EPA: CFL Recycling Where You Live
- Energy Star: Will CFLs Be Required By 2012?
- Energy Star: Commercial LED Lighting
- DOE: How LEDs Work

link:
Comments(14)
Posted By Anonymous - Tue, Dec 08 2009 at 3:46 PM ESTBulb energy saver
Creative thinking and the most is bulb is consider as a energy saver . When we go to travel destinations use bulb as a energy consume.
Posted By Tex Lovera - Tue, Oct 13 2009 at 3:03 PM ESTAnd one more thing...
You also compare everyhting based on coal plants. As others have pointed out, the coal plant Hg emissions are being continually DECREASED, so that Hg will get reduced (and is not taken into account in the article's ana;lysis).
Plus, why do we still have coal-fired plants? BECAUSE THE GREENS WON'T LET US BUILD CLEAN NUCLEAR PLANTS. There's you're one-stop solution to a host of "green" concerns, but OMG it's a NUKE we can't have that!!!!
Posted By Tex Lovera - Tue, Oct 13 2009 at 2:58 PM ESTLead-Shmead
The lead in incandescents is in the solder, which isn't AEROSOLIZED like the mercury in CFLs. You aren't going to get lead poisoning from a broken regular light bulb, but you'll inhale the mercury from a broken CFL.
The key line in this whole article is "Congress put its foot down...". Yeah, right on us. It's time for us to put the foot down on Congress. I don't need a nanny, you fatuous bunch of crooks. Don't tell me what toilet/showerhead/light bulb to buy. Convinceme on their.... More
Posted By green and proud - Thu, Oct 15 2009 at 5:36 PM ESTdoing the right thing
People who blindly continue believing what they think is right in spite of all the facts clearly presented obviously could use a nanny. My major was in energy mgmt and I've studied these issues for 9 years now. At this point its simply ignorant to rant against a law the Pres. Bush signed when the "merits" are obvious to anyone with 2 or more brain cells to rub together. Like teabaggers, some people will advocate against their own best interest because of a lack of maturity and this attitude of.... More
Posted By Halogenica - Thu, Sep 24 2009 at 11:40 AM ESTIncandescent Light Bulbs do NOT Contain Lead
Old bulbs may still contain a dot of lead solder, but after 2006, leading manufacturers have ceased to use lead in light bulbs.
Posted By Aaron - Wed, Jul 08 2009 at 12:11 PM ESTRecycling bulbs isn't that hard...
If you have a lot of fluorescent bulbs in your facility you already know the cost and energy savings they can bring. Fortunately recycling them isn't all that hard or expensive. Using prepaid mail-in programs like EasyPak (http://www.lamprecycling.com) are pretty inexpensive and also guarantee that you won't get stuck with an EPA fine.
For more info see my blog at .... More
Posted By Halogenica - Thu, Sep 24 2009 at 12:00 PM EST$34.95 for recycling??
Seriously Aaron, you're willing to pay another $34.95 to recycle your bulbs? Do you really think that after people have already payed a higher price for the CFLs initially, they're willing (and albe) to pay even more to get rid of them afterwards?
I rather suspect a lot of CFLs will end up in the trash...
Posted By Greg - Wed, Jan 13 2010 at 11:32 AM ESTre: "I rather suspect a lot of CFLs will end up in the trash...
Halogenica - I'm not sure where you live, but in our area every place that sells CFLs also accepts them back to recycle for free. There are containers at the front of the stores and you simply bring you lamps in a plastic bag and deposit them for free. Assuming lamps have burned out or broken, they're going to need replacing and for that you'll need a store. Anyone that can't be bothered to bring their old lamps in with them to the exact same place they're already heading is just plain.... More
Posted By peterdub - Tue, Jul 07 2009 at 4:59 PM ESTWhy All Lights Have A Place in This World!
Thanks Russell for an interesting and balanced view of different lighting..
To put it in another perspective:
Americans choose to buy ordinary light bulbs around 9 times out of 10.
Banning what Americans want gives the supposed savings - no point in banning an impopular product!
If new LED lights -or improved incandescents- that you mention are good,
people will buy them - no need to ban ordinary light bulbs (little point).
If they are not good, people.... More
Posted By peterdub - Tue, Jul 07 2009 at 4:52 PM ESTWhy CFL mercury is worse than Coal mercury!
RE Mercury : CFL v Coal Power
Why does this folk tale keep doing the rounds?
Greater coal power mercury problem was only ever true where untreated coal power dominated,
and is not true any longer.
New injection and photochemical techniques along with conventional gasification and wet scrubber use have -and will- dramatically reduce all coal power mercury emissions:
USA Government EPA: 90% reduction by 2018, (phase 1 = 21% reduction by 2010, phase 2 = 69% further.... More
Posted By Susan Barton - Tue, Jul 07 2009 at 2:07 PM ESTLight Bulbs' Dark Side
My sister-in-law's electrician told her about one of his clients who dropped and broke a CFL in her home. The package recommended that she call the EPA for disposal information. She called them and they had her seal that room closed with duct tape. They arrived in Haz-Mat suits 3 days later, removed the bulb and a circle of carpet and left her with a $5000 bill.
Posted By Cosmo - Wed, Jul 08 2009 at 12:56 PM ESTRe: The dark side
Sue,
There are three possible explanations for your comment
1) Either your sister in law or your sister in-laws electrician has lied to you, and made this story up.
2) You are repeating an old wives tale yourself, and your sister in law didn't even tell you this story, in which case you are promulgating false information (i.e lying), or
3) Someone at the EPA is in cahoots with hazmat teams, looking for suckers to pay 5K and pad their wallets.
I'm not even.... More
Posted By James Davies - Tue, Jul 07 2009 at 9:28 AM ESTIncandescent Light Bulbs Contain Lead
There is always a lot of talk about CFLs with their mercury and the associated dangers, which is valid and it is good to be careful. But incandescent light bulbs actually contain a significant amount of lead, which is also a potent neuro-toxin, so the mercury draw back of CFLs is not as significant as it might seem.
"Incandescent light bulbs contain lead at levels that exceed hazardous waste limits. " from: .... More



Facebook
Stumble
Tweet
Digg
Link














I HOPE!!!!!
im hoping manufacturers can make new incandescent lightss! i dont want to put mercury in my home!!!