Switching from higher to lower energy light bulbs may increase Mercury emissions

[shadow2get]

New Haven (CT) - Yale University researchers have discovered that in many places around the globe, switching from high energy incadescent light bulbs to energy saving varieties (such as Compact Fluorescent Lighting, or CFL) actually increases the amount of Mercury released into the atmosphere. The report has to do with a number of factors, including the type of power generation used by the region. It's turning out that the fight against global warming is not the same for everybody.

One of the primary factors is the area's power generation source. If an area uses coal, then the chemistry of the local coal becomes a factor. The research has found that Estonia, China, Romania, Bulgaria, Greece, and even inside of the United States, the states North Dakota, New Mexico and West Virginia are being affected. Several member states in South America, Africa and the Middle East are also affected.

"CFL is an area where we're really pushing this alternative and all these policies are being enacted, but we're not looking at the potential unintended consequences of what we're doing," said study author Julie Beth Zimmerman, an assistant professor in Yale's Department of Chemical Engineering and its School of Forestry & Environmental Studies.

CFLs are available in most supermarkets today. They are the coiled light bulbs that replace 60 watt bulbs with something around 15 watts - wiuh the same light energy output. They require only 1/4th the power, and can last up to 10 times longer.

According to the research, while these light sources require much less power than incadescent bulbs, their manufacturing contains Mercury. When these light bulbs burn out they are tossed in the garbage, and that enventually makes its way to landfills.

Graduate student Matthew Eckelman said, "It's always good to promote energy efficiency, but it's always a tradeoff. You may get a lower energy bill at home, but you don't see the emissions or the runoff downstream."

The research does not discount the energy savings produced by these lower-energy light bulbs. What their purpose seems to be is to take a step back and examine the efforts in energy savings to get a more comprehensive picture of the total environmental impact, and not just the energy savings of the new device.

Source

[amizdu]

People, use candles and oil lamps!

[gopi_vbboy]

both the way we are emitting something.......

[thewisecrab]

I've been thinking about this for the last two years and finally my suspicions have been confirmed
Just think about it, we are making the switch to CFLs from incandescent bulbs which is good from the savings point of view. But (According to Wikipedia), they contain mercury, which is long lasting but toxic. So maybe, in let's say... 2012-2014, there may be a huge problem arising out of proper disposing of CFLs which contain mercury.
IMO, shouldnt neon and tube type lights (like the white tube light in our homes) be used to save electricity? They are very marginally less efficient than CFLs but is definitely more efficient than Edison's Bulb.
Whot say guyz?

[anispace]

^^ cfls are the same as the white tube light in ur home. They are just much more compact.

[thewisecrab]

^^
No dude
As I said, tube lights in our homes contain inert gas-like elements which emit a glow when they are excited by the passage of current.
The CFL, however, emits light with the same effect but by using mercury compounds instead of these gases, which may cause a problem