Energy Efficient Lighting
One of the easiest and best ways to improve energy efficiency in lighting is to use compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs). According to Energy Star, a joint program of the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the US Department of Energy that evaluates products for their energy efficiency, a 20-Watt CFL emits the same amount of light as a 75-Watt incandescent, uses about 75% less energy and lasts up to ten times longer than an incandescent bulb. CFLs cost more than incandescent bulbs, but because they use less energy and last longer, they more than pay for themselves in the long run. According to Energy Star, each bulb saves about $30 in electricity costs over the course of its lifetime. Some electric companies also offer discounts and other incentives for using Energy Star qualifies products. Check with your electricity provider to see if discounts are available in your area.
One difficulty with CFLs is that they contain mercury, a dangerous neurotoxin. If CFLs break in the home or are disposed of improperly on a large scale, they could pose a threat to human health and the environment. Mercury is essential to the energy efficient design of CFLs; it is part of the reason CFLs do not produce nearly as much heat as incandescent bulbs. However, according to Energy Star, using CFLs in place of incandescent bulbs actually reduces the amount of mercury entering the environment because coal-generated electricity is a much greater source of human-caused mercury emissions. Since a CFL uses much less electricity than an incandescent bulb, its use results in an average mercury reduction of 4.2 mg, assuming it ends up in a landfill. When CFLs are recycled, each bulb can spare 4.5 mg of mercury from entering the atmosphere. Other sources of mercury include petroleum combustion and manufacturing sources. Using fewer petroleum based products, such as by avoiding plastic bags in favor of reusable bags and driving less, is also an important step toward reducing mercury emissions.
Compared to coal-generated electricity, the mercury in CFLs poses far less of a threat to the environment and human health. However, exposure to the mercury in CFLs and its release into the environment should be carefully avoided. The US EPA provides specific guidelines for clean-up and disposal of broken bulbs and recycling of intact bulbs.