Replacing energy-hogging incandescents with energy-saving fluorescents (CFLs) is a simple, effective way to slow the rate of global climate change while saving money.  It’s good for the environment, it’s economical, it’s efficient, and it’s easy.

The less energy used, the less needed to be generated.   That means the less of all of these environmental   effects.  Residential demand uses 33% of all electricity generated.¹

Acid Rain

“The largest group of contributors to U.S. emissions of SO2 was the electric utilities, accounting for 69 percent in 2001 (see Table U-1 and U-2)… Sulfur dioxide …is a major contributor to the formation of urban smog and acid rain. As a contributor to urban smog, high concentrations of SO2 can cause significant increases in acute and chronic respiratory diseases.   In addition, once SO2 is emitted, it …returns to earth as the primary contributor to acid deposition, or acid rain. Acid rain has been found to accelerate the decay of building materials and paints, and to cause the acidification of lakes and streams and damage trees.”²

CO2

Most of the electricity used in Michigan for lighting is generated by coal powered plants.³     These power plants pollute the atmosphere and emit CO2, SO2, NOx, and mercury.  In fact, “The process of generating electricity is the single largest source of CO2 emissions in the United States (39%).” ⁴    One CFL replacing an incandescent can cut CO2 emissions by 822 pounds in five years.⁵    Replacing 17 bulbs reduces enough CO2 to equal removing one car off the road for a every year.⁶

Global Warming

“There is a natural greenhouse effect that contributes to warming. Greenhouse gases trap heat, and thus warm the earth because they prevent a significant proportion of infrared radiation from escaping into space. Concentration of greenhouse gases, especially CO2, have increased substantially since the beginning of the industrial revolution. And the National Academy of Sciences indicate that the increase is due in large part to human activity.    Energy-related activities are the primary sources of U.S. man-made greenhouse gas emissions, representing about 85 percent of the U.S. man-made total carbon-equivalent emissions in 1998.”  This and other information on global warming can be found on EPA's Global Warming website.    EPA also has environmental calculatorsyou can use to help determine your impact on global warming and what to do to minimize it. 

Landfills

In addition, for every CFL used, there are eight less incandescent light bulbs ending up in landfills.

Mercury

Mercury is used in many household items: thermostats, thermometers, fluorescent lights, batteries and switches for appliances, lights and automobiles. Exposure to large quantities of mercury in our air, water and fish we eat is a documented risk to human health.   An extremely small amount of mercury—an average of four milligrams—is sealed within the glass tubing of a CFL. This is said to be about the size of the period at the end of this sentence.   It is an essential, irreplaceable element in CFLs, and it’s what allows the bulb to be such an efficient light source. The mercury in a CFL is no threat to the environment unless the glass is broken.  For a basis of comparison, there are about one to three grams of mercury in your average home thermometer. It would take between 250 to 1000 CFLs to equal that same amount.⁴  

Ironically, a regular incandescent light bulb actually releases much more mercury into the environment than a CFL.   CFLs prevent mercury from entering our air, where it most affects our health by reducing energy demand at the power plant. The highest source of mercury in our air comes from burning fossil fuels such as coal, the most common fuel used in Michigan  to produce electricity. A CFL uses up to 75% less energy than an incandescent light bulb and lasts up to 10 times longer. A power plant will emit 10mg of mercury to produce the electricity to run an incandescent bulb compared to only 2.4mg of mercury to run a CFL for the same time.⁷  (mg = milligrams)

Disposal - Some communities offer disposal or recycling programs that accept fluorescents. Check with your local or municipal government entity responsible for solid waste or household hazardous waste collection.

• Disposal through the household hazardous waste collection is preferred but you can lawfully dispose of CFLs in your household garbage. To reduce the risk of bulb breakage or contamination and to protect yourself and the garbage staff from cuts, wrap the bulb in a sealed plastic bag and discard it with your trash.

• Never incinerate CFLs (or any other mercury-containing materials for that matter).

• If your bulb breaks, your greatest risk actually is being cut by broken glass. Handle it sensibly and be certain to sweep up all the glass fragments (don’t vacuum, because that can disperse particles). Place the broken pieces in a plastic bag and wipe the area with a damp paper towel to pick up any stray shards of glass or powder. Keep CFLs working for the environment. 

For more information, see EPA’s “Fact Sheet:  Mercury in Compact Fluorescent Lamps CFLs”

• If your ENERGY STAR®-qualified bulb fails within its one year warranty period, you should be able to return it to the place of purchase for a replacement bulb.  

Nitrogen Oxides (NOx)

Nitrogen oxides (NOx), is the term used to describe the sum of NO, NO2, and other oxides of nitrogen.    Emissions from electrical generation accounts for 24% of the NOx emitted in the U.S.⁸    NOx plays a major role in the formation of ozone in the atmosphere…  It is also a matter of public health concern. NO2 exposure can cause problems for individuals with preexisting respiratory illnesses, as well as increases in respiratory illnesses in children 5 to 12 years old. Evidence suggests that long-term exposures to NO2 may lead to increased susceptibility to respiratory infection.  (Note:  Home heaters and gas stoves also produce substantial amounts of NOx in indoor settings.)   Deposition of nitrogen from NOx can also lead to fertilization, eutrophication, or acidification of terrestrial, wetland, and aquatic (e.g., fresh water bodies, estuaries, and coastal water) systems.⁹

Footnotes:

1.   USEPA    'Inventory of US Greenhouse Gas Emissions & Sinks:  1990-2001'  April 2003, EPA 430-R-03-004, Table A-17.  

2.   USEPA    'Inventory of US Greenhouse Gas Emissions & Sinks:  1990-2001'  April 2003, EPA 430-R-03-004, pg U-1.  

3.   Dept of Energy and the Energy Information Administration 'State Electric Profiles for 2002'    February, 2004   

4.   USEPA   'Inventory of US Greenhouse Gas Emissions & Sinks:  1990-2001'     April 2003, EPA 430-R-03-004, page 2-12

5.   US Dept of Energy and the Energy Information Administration’s ‘Updated State-level Greenhouse Gas Emission Coefficients for Electricity Generation 1998-2000’ dated April 2002   - Michigan’s emissions for CO2 = 1.58#/kWh and NOx = 0.000025#/kWh. 

*Replacing a 75 watt incandescent with a 23 watt CFL.

6. The EPA's Personal Greenhouse Gas Calculator   states the average car emits 13,500# of CO2 in a year. Replacing 17 light bulbs saves more CO2 in their life than taking a car off the road for one year (17x822# per bulb = 13,974# CO2).  

7.    USEPA ‘Fact Sheet:   Mercury in Compact Fluorescent Lamps CFLs’, 2003

8.    USEPA 'Inventory of US Greenhouse Gas Emissions & Sinks:  1990-2001'  April 2003, EPA 430-R-03-004, Chapter 2, Energy, calculation using Table 2-17, page 2-24 and Table 2-22, page 2-28.

9.  USEPA  'National Air Quality and Emissions Trends Report, 2003' page 17