Safety of Energy Saving Light Bulbs
Compact fluorescent light bulbs, or CFLs, are a popular variety of light bulb noted for being more energy efficient than traditional incandescent bulbs. According to Underwriters Laboratories, CFLs use only two-thirds the energy of incandescent bulbs and last up to 10 times longer. Although popular, there have been a number of concerns about the safety of CFLs. Does this Spark an idea?
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History
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CFLs rose dramatically in popularity in the 2000s as concerns about climate change and the price of energy intensified. However, with their increased use came questions about possible safety hazards of the bulb, particularly surrounding the small amount of mercury in the bulb, as well as what happens when CFLs die. When CFLs burn out, their expiration is usually more dramatic than that of traditional bulbs, with CFLs often making popping sounds, emitting an odor and even sometimes releasing smoke.
Significance
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Safety concerns about CFLs have the potential to retard their sales, slowing the spread of a valuable energy-efficient technology. These concerns have lead a number of organizations, including Underwriters Laboratories and the U.S Department of Energy, to directly address the safety of CFLs.
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Features
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CFLs do contain some mercury, but the amount is very small and poses little danger to users. According to the website CFL Facts and Myths, the typical fever thermometer contains 100 to 600 times as much mercury as a single CFL. As for their dramatic deaths, while CFLs do burn out in a way that differs from normal bulbs, according to Environmental Protection magazine and the website The Renewable Planet, this is entirely normal and causes no additional fire hazard. In fact, the base of a CFL contains a special flame-retardant material.
Misconceptions
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Because CFLs contain mercury, this has led to the common belief that disposal of the bulbs will create an environmental hazard, one that will ultimately decrease health. According to the CFL Facts and Myths website, mercury is indeed classified as a hazardous material by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and should be recycled, not thrown away. However, even if the bulbs are not recycled, the electricity saved due to their energy efficiency actually means that their use offsets the mercury that would otherwise be produced by electricity-generating facilities.
Warning
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According to Underwriters Laboratories, if a CFL bulb is broken, several safety precautions should be followed. First, a window should be opened and the room should be vacated for 15 minutes while it airs out. Then, the fragments should be wiped up with a wet rag or swept up with broom--not vacuumed--and thrown away. The cleaner should then wash their hands.
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References
- Photo Credit light bulbs image by Roxy from Fotolia.com
