Team Earth member Ciska C. raises some questions we’ve heard a lot since we showed you how to switch traditional, incandescent light bulbs to compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs):
Sorry, but those energy saving light-bulbs are way expensive, and then they break down within a month or two, and they are so full of poisonous mercury you can’t dispose of them normally – you have to take them to a special recycling outlet that is almost impossible to get to without a car. They just don’t make that much sense environmentally taking those factors into consideration.
If Ciska has those concerns, odds are some of you do, too. It’s awesome that Team Earth members care enough to ask, so we’ve tried to provide you with some answers.
- It’s definitely true that CFLs are more expensive than traditional bulbs, at least in the checkout line. But CFLs last at least seven times longer than incandescent bulbs. They also use a lot less power, so one bulb will save you an estimated $50 over its lifetime! Buying a CFL is one of the best investments you can make because it’s guaranteed to pay off in the long run, both for you and for the Earth.
- If your CFLs are burning out early, you should return them to the manufacturer. They’re probably defective. Also, make sure you’re not putting a CFL in a dimmable socket unless the bulb is specifically made for dimming.
- CFLs do have mercury, it’s true. The good news is that the amount of mercury in each CFL is tiny. Unless the bulb breaks, the mercury is contained within the CFL – whereas much of the mercury burned at power plants to fuel energy-hogging incandescent bulbs is released into the environment. Finally, if a CFL does break, the mercury is unlikely to pose a risk to you or your family.
- You do need to recycle CFLs to make sure that the mercury inside them doesn’t escape. Often, this can be inconvenient. There are resources, though, that can give you info on the process and make it easier! Check out this EPA site on recycling mercury-containing light bulbs.
We think the takeaway here is that while CFLs aren’t perfect, they’re a lot closer to perfect than old incandescent bulbs! Switching just six bulbs to CFLs can make a world of difference, and you can take action today.
