CFLs - Okay for the Environment?

Question:

Hi Kate-

I have been told that Compact Fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) are greener than standard incandescent bulbs, but I am not sure I agree. CFL bulbs contain mercury, a substance that is extremely dangerous for living organisms. When CFL bulbs get thrown away, this mercury ends up in landfills even though it is hazardous waste, and to date I am not sure there is an effective way to capture mercury from the environment.

Is this CFL trend just “green washing” or is there research to back it up? Wouldn't it be greener to continue to use incandescent bulbs that do not contain toxic chemicals?

Answer:

CFLs are considered “green” because they use 75% less energy than incandescent bulbs and have a much longer lifespan.

Image:Benjamin D. Esham for the Wikimedia Commons

However, as they gain popularity their mercury content has become a sticking point for wary consumers. CFL light bulbs contain on average 5 milligrams of mercury, about enough to cover the tip of a ballpoint pen. While this may seem like a small amount it is still hazardous, and so the concern that this mercury may build up in landfills and in the environment is indeed a valid one.

The mercury found in CFLs, and all fluorescent lights, is essential to their high-efficiency design. When used and disposed of properly these bulbs pose minimal threat to humans or the environment, so recycling them correctly is a great way to reap their benefits without the harm.

Large retailers such as Home Depot and Ikea have begun accepting used CFLs free of charge, and hopefully more CFL retailers will begin to do the same. Check out Earth 911 to locate a recycling center in your area.

Another important point is that coal-fired power plants, which supply almost half of the nation's electricity, are the leading source of mercury emissions in the air. According to Popular Mechanics, U.S. coal-fired power plants emitted 50.7 tons of mercury in 2006, the equivalent of the mercury in 9 million CFLs. Lowering our energy consumption through the use of CFL bulbs can ultimately decrease, not increase, the amount of mercury released into our environment.

That said, it is inevitable that some CFLs will end up in our landfills. But hopefully, informed green consumers will take the extra steps to minimize these hazards and spread the word. Besides recycling, you can also increase the life of your CFLs by using them in the warmer and dryer parts of your home or office, such as in the kitchen or living room. CFLs may have a shorter life in high-humidity spaces such as bathrooms or uncovered outdoor fixtures.

LED bulbs, another low-energy lighting option, do not contain mercury but are more expensive and some people do not like the quality of the light they emit. CFLs are a stepping-stone that will eventually be replaced with something better, but for now, even replacing just one bulb in your house with a CFL bulb will lower your energy costs and our overall consumption.

Hope this helps!

Kate