When trying to limit the size of your household environmental footprint the first place to start is the lightbulb. The average house has about 30; there are a couple in every room and their energy consumption can add up to a staggering total in your neighbourhood, city and across the country.
When trying to limit the size of your household environmental footprint the first place to start is the lightbulb. The average house has about 30; there are a couple in every room and their energy consumption can add up to a staggering total in your neighbourhood, city and across the country. Utilities are promoting the use of Energy efficient light bulbs (compact fluorescent light bulbs, CFBs) and some jurisdictions around the globe have gone the extra step and are banning the sale of the traditional incandescent bulb in an effort to reduce green house gas emissions.
Following in the footsteps of Australia, Ontario will ban the sale of inefficient incandescent light bulbs by 2012. It is estimated that replacing the 87 million incandescent bulbs in use across Ontario with more efficient bulbs would save six million megawatt hours every year. Advocates of compact fluorescent bulbs say they can cut your energy bill in half and last up to 10 years. That's enough to power 600,000 homes. (Jonathan Hayward/Canadian Press)
It is not all good news when considering CFB's and the environment. It's a fact of life that most light bulbs generally break when they're tossed out with the trash. When that happens with a compact fluorescent bulb, the mercury vaporizes, travels in a general northern direction with the atmosphere and is deposited in the environment. It is then absorbed into plant and animal systems, as well as the soil. We are exposed to mercury in many different products.
To give an example of the relative risk involved, Natural Resources Canada has a chart of Mercury found various common products, including dental fillings.
Product Milligrams of mercury
Compact fluorescent lamp 5
Watch battery 25
Dental amalgams 500
Home thermometer 500
Source: Natural Resources Canada.
Environment Canada notes that while manufacturers are working on cutting the amount of mercury used in fluorescent bulbs, they have not yet found a suitable replacement. Natural Resources Canada advises consumers to check with their municipal waste management programs for proper disposal and recycling. Home Depot Canada, the largest retailer of lights in the country, has said the company is working, together with Phillips Lighting, on a plan to safely recycle the fluorescent.
The cost of the bulbs might be a barrier to some consumers. A compact fluorescent bulb is around $2.50, while incandescent are just 50 cents each. However, consumers will save in the long run on energy bills. They use 75% less electricity to produce the same amount of light as an incandescent bulbs. Advocates of compact fluorescent bulbs say they can cut your energy bill in half and last up to 10 years. (Jonathan Hayward/Canadian Press)
Compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFBs) are more energy-efficient, and reduce air and water pollution. Every incandescent bulb replaced with a CFB, keeps half a tonne of carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere over the life of the bulb. The average household has at least 30 light bulbs... Add up your potential saving!
Which Bulbs Do I Replace?
Compact Flourescent Light Bulbs come in many shapes and sizes, and can be installed nearly anywhere that incandescent lights are used. Making the right choice on which bulbs you should replace will maximize your savings. How much you will save will depend on the bulb wattage and the number of hours it is turned on. Start replacing bulbs that are left on for extend periods of time, either on purpose or by accident such as a bulb in the kitchen or garage.
As CFBs are not available in one size fits all, consult with your retailer for specific recommendations. You can also use the chart below as a guide to where they go and what to replace.
Calculate your potential savings with this calculator:
Suggested Equivalents
Bulb Wattage
Incandescent CFB
100w 29w
75w 20w
60w 15w
40w 10w
How to Start Saving Without Spending Anything.
- Turn off lights whenever you leave a room or don't need them, even for just a few minutes. Contrary to popular belief, less energy is consumed when lights are turned on and off as you come and go than if a light is left on all the time.
- You can lower overall energy demand by concentrating bright light where you need it rather than evenly lighting the entire room – this is called ‘task lighting'.
- Opening your blinds during the day is a free way to brighten up a room.
- For any light that must be on all night (e.g. stairways), replace the bulbs with the lowest wattage bulbs that you're comfortable with or consider a compact fluorescent or a nightlight.
- Decorate your home with illumination in mind - lighter colours reflect light, so use them in areas you want to be bright.
- Keep light fixtures clean – a cleaner bulb is a brighter bulb.
Negatives Associated With CFB's
Under the heading "we just can't do anything right when it comes to the environment!" there are some negatives out there associated with CFB's.
1. Some environmentalists say that there is no true energy savings to these light bulbs as a certain amount of energy is consumed in their complicated manufacturing process. The energy expended in the manufacturing stage is called 'embodied energy'. Because many more components and energy are used in the production of each bulb in comparison to the basic incandescent bulb, some argue there is no overall savings. In the end, energy production costs offset the energy saving abilities of the CFB unit, rendering them irrelevant.
2. Under some conditions CFB's have a longer life than incandescent, they take a moment to brighten up, and can take much longer in very cold temperatures. Consumers have found that CFBS wear out faster when turned on and off for short amounts of time. They make the most sense in areas where the light is left on for longer periods, like the porch light, kitchen or hall.
3. Care must be taken with the disposal of CFBS. Each bulb contains a small amount of mercury(5 mg compared to 25 mg for a watch battery and 500 for dental amalgam). Since most bulbs break when thrown out with the trash this is a potential health concern.
Natural Resources Canada advises consumers to check with their municipal waste management programs for proper disposal and recycling. Broken incandescent bulbs inside a house or an office do not pose any environmental hazard beyond that of broken glass. However, like other fluorescent lamps, broken CFB's release mercury vapors, and require special handling to clean up. In the United States the EPA warns against vacuuming, suggesting instead that you vacate the room and open windows for fifteen minutes to allow any mercury vapor to air out, then clean up the breakage while wearing protective gloves, and use double plastic bags for all broken pieces. They suggest using duct tape to pick up small pieces.
According to Hydro Ottawa, in Ottawa, there are now several locations where you can properly dispose of compact fluorescent bulbs that have burned out. Like all other hazardous household items, extra care must be taken in their disposal in order to preserve the environment. Go to https://www.hydroottawa.com/index.cfm and click on CONSERVATION for more information.
4. In addition, the British Migraine Action Association maintains that the bulbs trigger migraines for some of its members. It may be due to either the flickering, or the low intensity of the light, causing eye strain.
However most of us are already adjusting to the new lights. We're saving money on hydro bills and learning to take old bulbs in with other hazardous waste, batteries and unused paint. In the end the savings are substantial
Use compact fluorescent light bulbs. They cost more than regular light bulbs (starting at $5), but can use 75% less electricity and last years longer. One compact fluorescent bulb can save you three times its cost in electricity.
For outside lighting, install a motion sensor that turns the lights on automatically when somebody walks by, then turns the lights off automatically after 1 to 5 minutes.
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