Simplify and Green by Switching to Compact Fluorescents
Simplifying and going green often go hand in hand. One of the best examples of this that I know of is compact fluorescent bulbs (CFLs).
By replacing all of your light bulbs with CFLs, you will simplify how often you have to change out lightbulbs — CFLs come with guarantees to last between 5 and 7 years on average.
While that alone may not get you excited about switching them out, let me point out the the advantages of doing so:
- CFLs use about 1/5 the electricity of standard bulbs, saving your electricity bill
- CFLs do not put out the heat that incandescent bulbs do. This saves on cooling bills.
- CFLs will pay for themselves in 1 year or less.
I am a CFL convert. We spent around $200 to replace all of our bulbs with CFLs. This included 14 “can” lights, 8 of which reside in an open-to-the-second-floor room. Here is what we found:
- Our electricity bill went from around $150 a month to $40.
- Our upstairs was much cooler without the “can” lights pushing heat out, as was the kitchen (the home of the remaining “can” lights)
- The light is much brighter.
- Our office space cooled down to the point where we only use the ceiling fan to keep air moving. Before the change, we had the ceiling fan, a box fan drawing air from the hallway, and two small desktop fans going.
- I have only had to change one bulb since we switched; before the switch we were changing burnt bulbs at least every other week.
- We have not had to change our outside light bulbs at all; before the switch we were changing at least one per week.
Some people are concerned about using CFLs because they contain mercury. Here are the facts on this:
There is approximately 4.0mg of mercury in a CFL bulb. The emissions from a coal-fired power plant to produce electricity to run the bulb over its 7 year lifetime is an additional 2.4mg of mercury. Conventional incandescent bulbs will require 10.0mg of emissions over their 5 year lifetimes.
The incandescent is producing *more* gaseous mercury contamination than the CFL, which goes into our rivers and lakes. The mercury contained in the CFL bulb remains in a form that can be recycled. (Source: EPA fact sheet)
Also, the amount of mercury in a CFL is much less than the mercury that can be found in other household items. One CFL contains 1/5 of the mercury of a typical watch battery, and 1/100 of the amount found in the old-fashioned mercury amalgam dental fillings. (Source: Canada Natural Resources FAQ)
CFLs do not leech mercury into the air while they are burning. The only hazard comes if they are disposed of improperly or break. “In the unlikely event your bulb breaks, be certain to sweep up - don’t vacuum - all of the glass fragments and phosphor powder. Place the broken pieces in a plastic bag and wipe the area with a damp paper towel to pick up any stray shards of glass or fine particles. Put the used towel in the plastic bag as well.” (Source: Canada Natural Resources Office of Energy Efficiency)
So switch, simplify and save!
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Very informative and interesting. Another major producer of mercury emissions is chlorine plants. Chlorine plants have been using mercury in their production for well over 100 years in the United States. Much of this mercury escapes through “fugitive emissions” – and then on top of that, many chlorine plants have unaccounted for mercury losses that make their way into the environment.
However, there is a solution. Newer membrane cell technology eliminates the need for mercury use in chlorine plants. Already 90% of the industry uses this technology, and there are ongoing campaigns to make chlorine production completely mercury-free. To learn more about this campaign check out the
Oceana website.