Want an easy way to save money and be more environmentally responsible? A simple switch from incandescent light bulbs to fluorescent tubes can make a significant difference in your energy bill.
Now, I know what you’re thinking. Those fluorescent lights can seem harsh or glaring compared to the warm lighting of an incandescent bulb. You might be surprised to learn compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) come in a wide variety of color values. You can get everything from warm yellow light to cool blue light. Rooms are best lit with a color personality that matches its use. You have several options with CFLs. You don’t have to sacrifice comfort and warmth for saving money.
But will it really make a difference? You bet!
A compact fluorescent light bulb is 75% more efficient than an equivalent incandescent bulb. Replacing all the bulbs in your home would save you almost $200 in energy savings annually. Plus, a CFL has a longer lifespan than a regular bulb (6 to 10 times as long). Each bulb will save you $40 over the life of the bulb, making your investment in a CFL pay for itself and then some.
Because these efficient bulbs have cooling systems, you’ll save on your cooling costs during the summer, too. Less energy use means less environmental impact. A switch to CFLs is a great choice.
Fluorescent lighting comes in all shapes and sizes. It is essentially a glass tube lined with a phosphor and mercury vapor. When electrically charged, the phosphor absorbs UV light and re-emits visible light. Mercury containing lamps have been around for a while, yet fluorescent lighting is safer and more effective. Metal-halide lamps are examples of modern examples of energy efficient mercury low mercury lamps.
Developed in 1934 by GE scientists, fluorescent lights have become a staple in both commercial and home lighting. Compared to typical incandescent bulbs and other mercury vapor lamps, fluorescent lights use less energy, last longer, and have lower maintenance costs. These lights come in the common long straight tube variety and newer compact fluorescent lamp (CFL) bulbs which fit into a standard light bulb socket.
While fluorescent lighting is good for the environment over the long term, there are some hazards to consider when using this type of lighting. Every bulb eventually burns out and needs to be disposed of. Fluorescent tubes and bulbs contain mercury, less than 5 milligrams, but even low mercury tubes are toxic and can be dangerous. In most areas, fluorescent lights are considered hazardous household waste and are prohibited from landfills and residential trash pickup.
Unfortunately, only about one-third of all mercury containing light bulbs are recycled, and that can cause problems. Leo Donovan, chief executive of WEEE explains, “When you dispose of fluorescent and CFL bulbs in your regular rubbish, the risk of bulb breakage is high. If broken, these bulbs can release harmful mercury vapor and metal dust into the air that can be hazardous to health and the environment.”
You should never toss a fluorescent tube or old bulbs in your trash. The fragile nature of light bulbs means when they are tossed in the trash, they are sure to break and release the mercury inside. This mercury can leak out onto nearby soil and eventually make its way to close-by water sources. Thus, broken bulbs are not good at all.
It also can build up in the atmosphere, falling as polluting rain and snow into surface water. Mercury in streams, lakes, and the oceans is absorbed by fish and other marine life and is toxic to this wildlife and to humans who ingest them.
Even though these bulbs are toxic and considered hazardous waste, the EPA classifies them under the Universal Waste Rule, which means they are eligible for recycling if it is done properly through a universal waste handler. Recycling or disposing in an approved manner is the only way these lights should be handled.
You can see why it is very important to discard these tubes and bulbs in a responsible manner. But how do you go about doing that?
Start by removing the bulb from its fixture very carefully to reduce the chance of breakage. Wrap it in paper and place it in a cardboard box for transport. Then, you can safely take it to a recycling or hazardous waste disposal facility. These are some options for consumers:
Find a local recycling facility near you. Recycling options are the best (and only) route here. Search Earth911 using your zip code. A recycling center will accept fluorescent bulbs at no charge to you. Make sure to recycle CFLs as well. Remember, fluorescent bulbs and CFLs require recycling and cannot be disposed of in normal garbage collection. Making sure these bulbs and tubes are properly recycled is crucial.
Drop off at a local hardware or home improvement store. Many Home Depot and Lowe’s stores have bins where you can deposit old CFL bulbs. You can call your local store to find out if they have these handy bins available. Batteries Plus accepts fluorescent tubes and CFL bulbs for recycling. Some locations charge a fee for this service. The bulbs they collect are sent to their recycling partners. IKEA stores have a free “Take Back” program for CFLs and will even accept non-IKEA brands. You can simply drop your used bulbs in the collection bins, and they will take care of the rest.
Recycle your bulbs with your local utility company. Check with your local electric/gas company to see if this is available in your community. These types of programs usually place collection bins in stores and public areas to collect used fluorescent bulbs.
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Send used bulbs through the mail. Consider a recycling company or local waste collection agency that offer mail-in kits to make it easy to ship your used bulbs to them. When you sign up to participate, you’ll receive a pre-labeled box and packing material. Recyclers include LampMaster, Veolia, LampTracker, Terracycle, and EcoLights. These solutions are great options for businesses that have more bulbs to dispose of than a typical household consumer.
Take them to a household hazardous waste (HHW) facility. These municipal or county facilities deal with all types of hazardous waste, including fluorescent tubes and CFL bulbs. Often these services are free for residents, but some may charge a small disposal fee.
Use safe disposal methods if you can’t recycle. If you don’t have recycling available in your area, and your only option is to throw the bulbs away, be sure to wrap them in paper towels and then seal them in zip top plastic bags before putting in your weekly trash collection. This will help to keep leaks of mercury vapor to a minimum.
Broken CFLs can expose you to mercury in a high intensity discharge. This is a toxic substance, dangerous to human health, and you’ll need to take care not to inhale these vapors. Even trace amounts can be hazardous. In the event of an accidental breakage, the EPA recommends following these steps to keep you and your family safe:
While fluorescent lighting is vastly more efficient and cheaper than incandescent lighting, there is an option that is even better. Light-emitting diode (LED) screw-base bulb have fewer negative impacts on the environment than incandescent and even CFL bulbs. While LEDs also contain some components made of toxic substances such as arsenic and lead, they are significantly less harmful than mercury. Because LEDs are not considered toxic to humans when broken, they offer a safer alternative to CFLs.
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