Upcoming Technologies
It is estimated that currently there are 2 billion light bulbs in use in the USA and most are replaced annually. Of that number approximately 550 million are fluorescent types and that number should eventually replace the older incandescent bulbs. This is a good thing as the old style incandescent type bulbs, around since before the turn of the past century, that's 1900 - not 2000, is an energy hog, and simply burns heat and your money.
Lighting accounts for close to 20 percent of the average home’s electric bill, and much more for a business. Making this change will help to use less electricity at home and the office saving both you and our economy money and energy resources now, and in the future. The newer and much more energy efficient fluorescent type bulbs, and especially the new ENERGY STAR qualified Compact Fluorescent Bulbs (CFL's) use up to 75 percent less energy (electricity) than incandescent light bulbs, last up to 10 times longer, cost little up front, and provide a quick return on investment.
If every home in America replaced just one incandescent light bulb with an ENERGY STAR qualified CFL, in one year it would save enough energy to light more than 3 million homes. That would have an immediate impact on the Earth's precious resources and prevent us from having to mine more coal or burn more fossil fuels to supply the energy needed for these older and outdated lighting systems.
The only problem with CFL's is they contain a very small amount of mercury sealed within the glass tubing – on average approximately 4 milligrams. By comparison, older thermometers contain about 500 milligrams of mercury – an amount equal to the mercury in 125 CFL's. Mercury is an essential part of CFL's as it allows the bulb to be an efficient light source. No mercury is released when the bulbs are intact (not broken) or in use. Most makers of light bulbs have reduced mercury in their fluorescent lighting products. Thanks to technology advances and a commitment from members of the National Electrical Manufacturers Association, the average mercury content in CFL's has dropped at least 20 percent in the past year. Some manufacturers have even made further reductions, dropping mercury content to 1.4 – 2.5 milligrams per light bulb.
The United States EPA estimates the U.S. is responsible for the release of 104 metric tons of mercury emissions each year. Most of these emissions come from coal-fired electrical power. Mercury released into the air is the main way that mercury gets into water and bio-accumulates in fish. (Eating fish contaminated with mercury is the main way for humans to be exposed.) Most mercury vapor inside fluorescent light bulbs becomes bound to the inside of the light bulb as it is used. EPA estimates that the rest of the mercury within a CFL – about 14 percent – is released into air or water when it is sent to a landfill, assuming the light bulb is broken. Therefore, if all 290 million CFL's sold in 2007 were sent to a landfill (versus recycled, as a worst case) – they would add 0.16 metric tons, or 0.16 percent, to U.S. mercury emissions caused by humans. Many attempts to recycle these lamps have been tried, but many fail as there has not been a convenient and safe way to transport these bulbs back to the recycler without releasing the Mercury into the air....until now!