More consumers are placing compact fluorescent lightbulbs (CFLs) in their shopping baskets. Using 25 percent the energy of standard incandescents (and lasting 10 times longer), the swirly little tubes have become a symbol of green living and a means to fight climate change. Australia will require homeowners and businesses to replace all incandescents with CFLs by 2010, ultimately reducing greenhouse gas emissions by four million metric tons a year. At least four U.S. states and Congress are considering similar legislation.
Yet CFLs have a downside: the bulbs contain mercury and cannot be tossed out with the ordinary trash. Roughly two billion will be sold in the U.S. this year (about 5 percent of the total lightbulb sales)—raising questions of how to handle 10 metric tons of mercury each year after the bulbs burn out.
This article was originally published with the title Toxic Bulbs.
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4 Comments
Add CommentYou know I'll eventually become a SciAm subscriber again, now that there is alot less trade rags to read for my industry. But you shouldn't charge for this article. Its a very very important issue because of all the mercury in the bulbs.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisGF
"LED" light bulbs will ultimately be the green choice. But right now they're way too expensive.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisI agree that LED is an option but there's nothing wrong with what we have now. Once solar really picks up we won't have to rely on the power plants as much. I've started researching the issue and can't believe what I'm finding. Please stop by:
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thishttp://stoppingatthegreenlight.wordpress.com
I agree that LED is an option but there's nothing wrong with what we have now. Once solar really picks up we won't have to rely on the power plants as much. I've started researching the issue and can't believe what I'm finding. Please stop by:
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thishttp://stoppingatthegreenlight.wordpress.com