Ironduke

Incandescent light bulbs have been with us since the 19th century. The latest improvement to incandescent bulbs occurred in 1911, when the tungsten filament was introduced.

An alternative to incandescent bulbs is the fluorescent light bulb, which consumes about 15-25% of the energy of an incandescent bulb, yet emits the same amount of light. Lawmakers in California and Connecticut have proposed laws banning incandescent lights, with similar proposals in the European Union. John Howard, the prime minister of Australia, has overseen legislation which will ban the production and import of incandescent light bulbs in Australia by 2010.

Not only do fluorescent light bulbs consume far less energy than incandescents, they also have a much longer life span. I've literally seen fluorescent light bulbs last for years despite being used 12 hours a day. This lengthy life span helps offset the costs of the bulb, as fewer need to be purchased.

So, should incandescent bulbs be banned and phased out in favor of fluorescent light bulbs? What are the environmental consequences of switching from incandescents to fluorescents?

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Officer of Engineers

Mercury when disposing the fluorescent.

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Chimo

Ironduke

I'd just read about that -- 5 milligrams per bulb. If all 4 billion bulbs in the US were to be disposed of and replaced, there would be 50,000 pounds of mercury.

Debbie

I took an environmental class in college where we were given extra credit if we purchased 2 of the compact flourescents. Go figure.

bonehead

The frequency of some flourescent bulbs affects the moods of people who receive little natural light. Graveyard shift anyone? Incandesent bulbs are also usefull for keeping spaces heated so your water pipes don't freeze in the rare, shortlived cold spells. I don't want or need the extra mercury, but I am replacing the incandecents, when they burn out, with flourescents. I am waiting for the LED technology to arrive.

gunnut

I voted NO.

I don't like to ban things. People should have the freedom to pick and choose, especially on something trivial like this.

My house is running on nearly all florescent lighting.

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astralis

an interesting link regarding the mercury issue:

fluorescent lights

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Ironduke

Well, take a 60W incandescent light bulb and it runs for 1000 hours, this is 60kWh, right? Assuming astralis's statement about mercury emissions from the burning of fossil fuels is correct:

60 x 0.04 = 2.40mg mercury for incandescent (1000 hours)
14 x 0.04 = 0.56mg mercury for fluorescent light bulb (1000 hours)

Philips 14w Universal Marathon has 2.56mg mercury per bulb
EFI's Consumer Division Residential Catalogue | Philips 14w Universal Marathon®

Given a 12,000 hour life for the Phillips, and 12 incandescents with a life of 1000 hours apiece:

Incandescent: 2.40 x 12 = 28.8mg mercury
Fluorescent: 0.56 x 12 + 2.56 = 9.28mg mercury

It seems the fluorescent is the winner in every category.

Blademaster

Not to mention that I save a shitload of money on utility bills. Also try out "Blue lights" by Phillips. It gives the natural sunlight color while saving money.

LED should be a big hit because it will give you best of both worlds, natural sunlight and energy savings.

gunnut

I read it in a newspaper article that explains how the mercury emitted from burning coal is different from the mercury from burying the florescent bulbs in landfills. The mercury from florescent bulbs in the landfill has a much higher chance of entering our food supply because it's in pure vapor form. The mercury from burning coal is in compound form and usually scrubbed out.

That's just what I read...

HistoricalDavid

Quite apart from the moral implications, I need to find fluorescent lightbulbs which don't buzz constantly. I think I have about four or five lying in my bedroom's hardware drawers and all of them buzz irritatingly.

Ironduke

The long ones buzz... the light bulb shaped ones shouldn't.

RustyBattleship

I voted NO because the floursecent type thingys will NOT work on dimmer switches.

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Gun Grape

I voted no.

Mentioned in another thread was the fact that many/most places in the US are not set up to dispose of hazmat.

SO if your county/waste management people use an incinerator all that mercury is going into the air. Unlike that coal power plant that uses stack scrubbers to catch it.

If they are using a landfill, its going into your watertable.

IronDuke, I'm assuming that you specificly meant Compact Fluorescent Lights(CFL), vice ths standard 4 foot models. The mercury in standard 4 foot models are much higher. Since the mercury content was reduced in 1994 the Avg 4 foot t-12 light has 22.8 milligrams of mercury. (use to be around 45) If you figure 2 or 4 per fixture, they are not as "Green" as we are led to believe.

CFLs have a few problems, some can interfear with electronic equipment, and especially with remote devices that use infrared.

They cannot be used in recessed light fixtures.

The "long Life" only applies if they are installed with the Ballast down, like a floor lamp, Installed any other way will shorten the bulb life due to the ballast
overheating.

There are special precautions that you should take if a lamp breaks in your house. Sweep the glass up, never vacume, Open windows to vent the room, place broken peaces in a sealed bag and wipe the area with a damp paper towel that you also seal in a bag before disposing at your recycling/hasmat site.

Rusty you are close to being right about dimmer switches. Floresents will not work with a normal dimmer switch, In fact it can cause a fire if you try. However they do make Florescent dimmers, which only work with certain brands, and if using CFLs they cannot be used on a circuit that also has regular bulbs. None will work with old school mechanical/mag ballast.

Also cannot use timers or photocells with CFL.

Now as for dimmers, a good dimmer switch will cost you about $20.00,
A dimmer for regular Florescent bulbs runs around $150.00.
If you buy the "Dimmable" CFLs a low cost dimmer runs about $45.00.
And you have to match the dimmer with the bulb manufacturer.

Bluesman

More 'do-gooder' crap to make us wards of the nanny state.

NO, it shouldn't be banned, unless I get the two bans I want: pro wrestling and rap music.

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