I recently read an article which stated that the incandescent light bulb, you know, the one Thomas Edison invented in 1880, is being phased out starting next year.
By 2014, only a few specialty incandescents will be available like three-way bulbs and lights for plants and appliances.
No more simple incandescent bulbs that cast that warm, cozy glow over the pages of your book as you curl up reading each evening in your favorite chair!
The incandescent bulb is being slowly but surely rooted out by the cold, impersonal light of the compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs). There is another option, called the LED bulbs, but as of this writing are virtually unknown in American stores.
So, at least for now, this leaves us with the CFLs.
My main beef with the CFLs is not the Antarctic light they cast. While I don’t like CFL light nearly as much as the warm glow of incandescents, I could probably get used to it after a while. I’ve also noticed some of the newer CFL bulbs cast a much warmer glow than a few years ago.
My issue is with the small amount of mercury present in each CFL bulb not to mention the amount of dirty electricity your family is exposed to when you use fluorescent bulbs around your home.
Supporters of CFLs say that the small amount of mercury in the bulbs is less than the mercury emissions from coal-fired power plants and CFLs use a lot less electricity than incandescents thereby significantly reducing those emissions.
My take is that mercury is a neurotoxin and is not safe in any amount, certainly not in your home. What if that adventurous toddler knocks over a lamp and breaks one on your living room carpet?
The result is not just a pile of broken glass like what would happen with an incandescent bulb. The result is exposure to a potent neurotoxin.
I don’t personally derive any level of comfort from claims that the small amount of mercury from a broken CFL would not contaminate a home or require an environmental crew to clean up the mess. The FDA makes similar claims about dental amalgams too, but the fact is that people are experiencing toxic effects from them just the same.
CFLs Not Recycled by Most People
Another worrisome problem is that most people throw CFLs in the trash rather than recycle them despite laws against this in many areas of the country. Not only does this potentially expose sanitation workers to high levels of mercury from multiple broken bulbs but it has the likelihood of turning our landfills into toxic waste dumps. What’s more, CFLs that break near homes can contaminate the soil.
Adding to the problem is the lack of participation by big retailers such as Wal-Mart in assisting with the recycling effort.
Even General Electric, which has manufactured CFLs for about 20 years, says the small amount of mercury in each CFL bulb could add up to big contamination problems once incandescents are no longer available and sales of the toxic bulbs rapidly increase.
Incandescents still represent about 80% of the market for bulbs in America with CFL bulbs accounting for only 17% of sales.
It seems to me that the switch from incandescent bulbs to CFLs represents a classic case of robbing Peter to pay Paul. I, for one, will not be embracing the CFL trend. I’ve got quite a stash of incandescents that should last me a good long while and when those run-out, hopefully, this new LED bulb technology will offer a decent non-toxic solution for my home.
Source
National Public Radio, CFL Bulbs Have One Hitch: Toxic Mercury
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Yes, commercial energy usage is one huge area for major energy savings. Do you all actually pressure companies to turn off excess lights? (i will be volunteering with a group in my city next spring to do that, BTW. Commercial building lights attract & kill migrating birds AND waste energy). Don’t pretend that we shouldn’t take personal responsibility for our own electricity usage either though.
1000bulbs.com often runs great sales on incandescent bulbs. I recently got a few cases of 100w bulbs at 30 cents each! Stock up now folks!
I thought I had read somewhere (a while back) that these new bulbs aren’t truly capable of being recycled and that was a problem with making them basically the only option. What really eats me up is that the people making decisions for our country are swayed by their own personal interests and the almighty dollar, so they don’t even ask or consider the potential downsides and harmfulness of something that is pushed to be mandated.
Stephanie, it is said that CFLs aren’t even more efficient unless they’re on for a long period of time. At this time, it is by no means a no-brainer for CFLs or LEDs. Let the consumer have a choice. Electric light hurts my head.
I commend the efforts to reduce unnecessary lighting, especially at night. I’m a big fan of that effort.
Nuclear power plants scare me more than the curly light bulbs.
Wow, Holly. No one cares to listen to your opinion when you are that rude and condescending.
LEDs are coming down in price. Costco has some at a fairly reasonable price even.
I use the regular bulbs but will switch reluctantly when I have no choice.
If you have Lupus or any other disease that us exacerbated by the sun you will be made sick just by having the lights on in your own home. Fluorescents in office buildings are one of the many reasons I can’t work. They should be against the ADA.
You will have a choice Denver Tina! Not all incadescents will be outlawed, I’m sure there will be ways around this, plus any bulbs outside of the ones being outlawed will still be for sale take for instance the higher wattages.
Make light bulbs that don’t contain mercury!!!
I thought I was the only one stockpiling my incandescent light bulbs! Those CFL bulbs cause depression and they’re just not healthy for people.
Stephanie- are you serious?! Huge companies and box stores- mass manufacturers etc WASTE TONS of electricity every second and they want to take away my comforting normal spectrum lightbulb?? Don’t be brainwashed! I don’t even use over 40 watt either! Just ONE of those huge lamps they leave FLARING over an empty parking lot all night counts for THOUSANDS of my tiny little bulbs I leave on for a little while each night! Don’t be willing to bend to their will so easily and be such a servile sheeple
We all have our own opinion of witch bulb is safer! I just want to be able to choose witch light bulb to ues!!!!
My main issue is her calling this recommendation “green-minded” — it is misleading and not really about the environment. Too casual of a claim without presenting the full picture. If mercury is the issue (and yes it is concerning and they need to find alternatives), way more mercury is introduced into the environment from power plants than from CFL light bulbs. “In 2006, coal-fired power plants produced 1,971 billion kilowatt hours (kwh) of electricity, emitting 50.7 tons of mercury into the air–the equivalent amount of mercury contained in more than 9 billion CFLs.” See one analysis here: http://www.popularmechanics.com/home/reviews/news/4217864. My pet peeve: seeing recommendations like this perpetuated without all the costs and benefits being mentioned.
There are other entities besides the humble homeowner with their tiny bulb that need to go ahead ant take on the bulk of the energy saving needed. They’re the selfish energy pigs and only their being more frugal with energy usage and carbon emissions would make a REAL difference. Of course, I live much more simply already than the average American and I’m sure many who frequent Sarah’s blog do also. It’s good to do elsewhere to hop on your “save the environment” soap box.
@ Holly – I’m not saying everyone should do EVERYthing, I’m just saying that people need to present better information on complicated issues such as light bulb choices if they are going to recommend that one way is better for health than another.
It DID start happening THIS year. Try to find a 100 watt incandescent bulb in any store today. 75 watt bulbs start going away on January 1, 2013. 60 watts and 40 watts are next year.
It sounds like that our government is turning socialist/communist. I mean, think about it. The government is raising taxes, amassing power, controlling nearly everything.
I don’t know about you, but I think I might move to Russia. At least they have learned their lesson.
Being in the architecture industry, I am consistently floored by the USGBC (United States Green Building Council) anti-incandescent stance, and promotion of LED and CFL, giving points to buildings seeking LEED certification for using such. Actual attention to real health inside a building is totally ignored, and when I’ve brought this up to directors of large chapters, it’s completely pushed to the side with a load of green-washing. It’s a shame.