One of the first steps we can all take to ‘go green’ is switching to Compact Fluorescent Bulbs. And with good reason. CFL’s use only one quarter of the energy required for standard incandescent bulbs. A 15-watt CFL produces the same light as a typical 60-watt incandescent bulb and saves 45 watts for every hour you leave the light on.
Less power used means less greenhouse gas emissions and other pollutants entering the atmosphere. Compact Fluorescent Bulbs are proven energy savers, and buyers like the fact they don’t have to change them for years.
While pricey, the benefits of CFL’s can’t be denied. However, there is the mercury problem. CFL’s contain small traces of mercury and there is no such thing as a safe level of mercury for your body, home or the environment.
Compact Fluorescent Bulbs require special disposal. Unfortunately only a tiny fraction of CFL’s are being properly disposed of. Most of them are thoughtlessly thrown out in the regular trash.
We can all play a part by promising to properly dispose of every compact fluorescent light that we purchase. It also should be our goal to help spread the word about CFL recycling options. We must get every compact fluorescent light to a recycler or mercury reclamation center and out of landfills.
Four Ways to Play a Part:
1. Recycling Options – Find out the recycling options in your community. The easiest way is to bring your bulbs to one of the many Home Depot stores across Canada. Municipalities will also have their own system for recycling CFL bulbs.
2. Reward Responsible Retailers – Purchase CFL’s only from retailers who have take-back programs. Let them know how much you appreciate green retailers.
3. Tell Your Friends – Tell your friends, family and co-workers how important it is to recycle CFL’s. Provide them with any information you have found in your research.
4. Tweet About Your Options – Twitter is a great way to get the word out. Let people know about recycling CFL’s. Tell your friends on Facebook and email your relatives.
Choosing energy-efficient lighting is one step to help reduce our ecological impact. Replacing even one 60-watt incandescent bulb with a 15-watt CFL in each of Canada’s 12 million households could save up to $73 million a year in energy costs. We all need to play a part by becoming recycling superheroes.
{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
i’m just curious, are you not aware of the potential health effects of fluorescent lighting or do you not believe they are significant enough? – not to mention the hazards of mercury which go beyond simple disposal (if a cfl light bulb breaks in your home you then need to have a specialist come in and do the cleaning or risk mercury contamination)
i feel like everyone has jumped on the bandwagon of fluorescent light bulbs as a quick and easy (though pricey) way of being greener without looking at all the consequences. – this instead of pushing the light bulb manufacturers to do better – i hear there are much better options coming with led’s but if the demand is not there yet and this may have something to do with what i believe is the misplaced excitement over fluorescent lighting
You can recycle CFL bulbs at any IKEA location. Very handy.
I agree with Helene. I have been a supporter of foxic free products for over 20 years. I work with homes to locate noxious zones or underground water that can present a health challenge for animals as well as humans. If you know anyone who does kinesiology please be checked before bringing the lamps into your home. Farmers need to test their animals too.
The big issues arrive if you drop one then you call in hazard control. Think about your options and the long term effects on your health..