Should You Phase Out Your Incandescent Light Bulbs?

photo by Anton Fomkin

Unless manufacturers can develop a more energy-efficient bulb, eventually you will have to phase out your incandescent lights. (According to the New York Times article by Leora Broydo Vestel, "Incandescent Bulbs Return to the Cutting Edge," July, 5, 2009, the incandescent bulb may not be dead yet. Manufacturers such as Phillips Lighting are coming out with more efficient incandescent bulbs). According to the Energy Independence and Security Act, in 2012 all light bulbs on the market must be 25 to 30 percent more efficient then the typical incandescents available today. California, always leading the pack in going green, has already begin the phase out of incandescent light bulbs; stores are not allowed to re-stock their 100-watt bulbs. Lower watt bulbs such as the 75, 60 and 40-watt incandescents will be phased out in subsequent years.

Why now phase out your own not so eco-friendly lighting products the next time you make a trip to Home Depot or your local hardware stores? Compact fluorescent (CFL) and LED bulbs offer a longer-lasting, more energy efficient alternative. Incandescent bulbs use a whopping 90 percent of their energy to produce heat rather then light, leading to millions of tons of unnecessary pollution being released into the air each year. CFL bulbs are more comparable to incandescent lighting — they are basically equal in terms of brightness, and although the upfront cost is more, they save money on electricity bills and you won't need to buy as many bulbs overall. LED lights are not as bright but they last much longer then both CFL's and incandescent bulbs.

When you do start your household phase out of incandescent light bulbs be sure to dispose of your CFL light bulbs properly (they have to be recycled). LED's, which do not contain mercury like CFL bulbs do, do not have to be recycled.

How to Dispose of Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs — Are You Recycling Your CFL's?

photo by Nioxxe

Compact fluorescent light bulbs, or CFL's, have become popular over the past several years as the eco-friendly alternative to incandescent light bulbs, which use the majority of their energy to produce heat, not light. According to the US Department of Energy, Energy Star qualified compact fluorescents use 75 percent less energy then your typical incandescent bulb and they last up to ten times longer. While CFL's themselves are more expensive, they can greatly reduce your electricity bill — by as much as $40 for the lifetime of one CFL bulb.

Green, eco-friendly and a positive step towards more energy efficient lighting. There is a catch however. CFL's contain mercury, and when they are not properly disposed of, they can become hazardous. Polluting landfills with tiny doses of mercury (about 4 milligrams per bulb), which can eventually end up in local groundwater, is not exactly eco-friendly. The mercury is not released when the bulbs are used, but when the bulbs are broken. ("Eco-friendly light bulbs switch on problems." The Washington Times, July 20, 2009).

The solution to eco efficient light bulbs potentially becoming eco hazardous is recycling. In some states in fact it is the law to properly dispose of your CFL's. So, how can you recycle your compact fluorescent light bulbs? You can look up a list of local waste collection agencies and recycling opportunities at Earth911.com. Also, many stores that sell the bulbs, including Home Depot and Lowe's, have CFL recycling programs. Another option is to mail the bulb back to the manufacturer to be recycled and disposed of properly. Check the website of your CFL's manufacturer for more info.