This really is a medium term issue that I think will be solved when LED bulbs are cheap enough.

Thank you for your comment.

IMHO, the LiveEarth pitch is a classic bait and switch tactic. The first few items on the list are actually easy for someone to do but have little long term effect on the environment. This makes is easy for someone to sign up. The last item though is the kicker – it says that you are calling for all nations to reduce their GHG by a huge percentage that would likely throw the economy into the tank for a long time. Most people wouldn’t agree to pay the costs of this reduction even though it sounds good at first glance. But by getting people to take the pledge, they are creating a very strong message that XX million people agree that world leaders should cut GHG by this huge margin.

I would feel better about the pledge if they would just be honest and say they suggest that everyone cut GHG by XX% and that would mean that gasoline would go to XX price and fuel oil would go to XX price, and food products would go to XX price. Then everyone would know what they were getting into – but then no one would agree.

The whole Live Earth message seemed to be change your light bulbs, save the world. Was it sponsored by a CFL manufacturer or something?

I’m glad someone is asking questions and not just blindly running to the Home Depot to go green.

It’s not showing up so I’ll try again.

http://ryan-technorabble.blogspot.com/2007/07/letter-to-cfl-doubter.html

Your facts are generally mistaken, though I’m sure you published them with the best of intentions. A simple test will prove that energy consumed in manufacturing of a CFL is not greater than it’s energy savings. If a CFL costs $3.50, it is unlikely to have more than $3.50 in energy invested. It is impossible that it would have $80 in energy invested.

Thanks for commenting, and your points are certainly valid. I personally like CFs, even with their own environmental concerns.

It really depends–I tried to find some statistics on how much energy was required to manufacture incandescent and fluorescent light bulbs, but failed miserably for the moment. However, if you assume that the average CF bulb lasts 10 times longer than the average incandescent bulb, then in order for the manufacturing of incandescent bulbs to be even as efficient as fluorescent bulbs then they would have to consume ten times less energy in production. Even if this is true (which is what I was trying to discern), the difference of manufacturing energy and disposal energy adjusted for lifespan would still have to make up for the energy saved during use.

Also, use of fluorescent versus incandescent bulbs in relation to disposal costs is sort of a difficult argument to make. The effect of mercury in fluorescent bulbs on the environment is up to the responsibility of the user and efficiency of the recycling process. Now, I know that the average person can’t really be relied on to recycle the CF bulbs, but hopefully with a bit of education as well as rise in popularity of these bulbs, getting in the habit of recycling these bulbs shouldn’t be too hard.

I won’t say that CFs are a cure all, but I think that they have too much promise to dismiss them as an alternative to incandescent light bulbs. If you want to go all out and really cut down on the energy you use and pollution you create, then you should look into a different solution; but for the average person that wants to make at least a little effort, CFs are a good starting point.

Another thing to remember is that CF bulbs are most likely not a huge contributor to the current mercury pollution from fluorescent bulbs because the regular fluorescent tubes such as those used in businesses, offices, schools, etc. Their use and improper disposal probably account for a vast majority of mercury pollution due to fluorescent lamps. Also, these lamps have been used much longer than their compact equivalents–in mass production since 1938. A lack of education about proper disposal of these bulbs causes a much larger impact than CF bulbs.

Should a bulb break, take these simple precautions. First, open nearby windows to disperse any vapor that may escape. Sweep up the fragments (do not use your hands) and wipe the area with a disposable paper towel to pick up all glass fragments. Do not use a vacuum. Place all fragments in a sealed plastic bag and follow the disposal instructions below.

- How should I dispose of my burned-out bulbs?

Recycling burned-out CFs is the best option. To find out if there are recycling options near you, call 1-800-CLEAN-UP for an automated hotline or visit earth911.org. (At the top of the earth911.org home page, enter your zip code and press “go.” Click on the “Household Hazardous Waste” link, then the “fluorescent bulbs” link. This page will identify the nearest mercury recycling or disposal facilities near you. If the page contains no specific information on CFs, go back and click on the link for “Mercury Containing Items.”)

Or contact your local government agency in charge of household hazard waste (start with your sanitation department) to see if recycling is an option in your area.