Compact fluorescent light bulbs are energy efficient bulbs designed to replace incandescent bulbs. Incandescent lights are a drain on energy and resources, and replacing them can reduce oil dependency, energy use and the amount of fossil fuels burned. There are many benefits to replacing even a few lights in a house with the more efficient compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFL bulbs).
Benefits of Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs
CFL bulbs are coiled light bulbs that can replace traditional incandescent bulbs in nearly any type of lamp, from desk lamps to outdoor decorative lampposts. Compact light bulbs tend to be brighter and whiter than incandescent bulbs, which makes them especially good for reading lights and lights in darker rooms of the house, such as bathrooms without windows or basements.
Additionally, compact fluorescent light bulbs last for significantly longer than incandescent bulbs. They can last up to ten times as long as incandescent bulbs, and are around four times more energy efficient. When using incandescent bulbs, the energy used costs much more than the initial cost of the bulb. When using CFL bulbs, the cost saved in energy is huge. Replacing just one incandescent bulb with a CFL bulb can save enough energy to light three million other homes. (Source: Ohio EPA)
Although the initial cost of purchasing CFL bulbs is higher, lighting costs are around 20 percent of a home’s energy cost annually, which means that the return investment in these long-lasting bulbs will be quicker.
As Americans and people around the world attempt to find ways to conserve both energy and money, CFL bulbs are one of the easiest solutions to both issues.
Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs and Mercury
One of the biggest factors in resisting the implementation of compact fluorescent light bulb use is the mercury contained in the bulbs. Mercury is a chemical that can have extremely detrimental effects on the nervous system and the neurological system of individuals who are exposed to it in large amounts.
Despite the fact that CFL bulbs contain mercury, the health risks are minimal. Each CFL bulb contains around 5 milligrams of mercury. Many home thermostats contain around 3,000 milligrams of mercury, and these pose no widespread risk to health.
When in use, the mercury in a CFL bulb becomes a vapor. This vapor is what provides the bulb with its energy and efficiency, and no other substance is as effective. Another benefit of mercury in CFL bulbs is that it keeps the substance out of waterways and the air, reducing pollution; properly recycled CFL bulbs keep the mercury in a contained cycle and give it a healthy use.
The only risk associated with CFL bulbs comes from a broken bulb. If a bulb breaks, the mercury vapor in the bulb can enter the air. Although there is not enough mercury to cause damage unless a significant amount of vapor is inhaled, opening windows and airing out the room can help dissipate the vapor more quickly. The white powder seen inside broken CFL bulbs is not mercury, but phosphorus, a substance that poses no health threat. (Source: Ohio EPA)
Clean up a CFL bulb wearing gloves to prevent cuts from glass shards and contact with any remaining mercury. Place the bulb in an airtight container and dispose of it at a recycling center.
Recycling Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs
Recycling CFL bulbs is one of the biggest challenges for many homeowners. Recycling centers can be challenging to find, or miles away. Some stores that sell CFL bulbs provide recycling containers, while a number of websites exist that list recycling centers for easy access.
Compact fluorescent light bulbs are the easiest way for individuals to dramatically reduce their influence on the environment. Replacing household lights with CFL bulbs can reduce both the energy needed to light a home, the cost of producing that energy, and the greenhouse gases created by burning fossil fuels to create energy.
Bailey Shoemaker Richards - Bailey is a writer from Ohio. She is pursuing a creative writing degree at Ohio University, where she is currently a senior. Bailey ...
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