Quote:
Originally Posted by DCforever
The numbers are clear and unequivocal, CFLs save energy and are good for the environment.
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The truth is just not as simple as that. CFLs have been zealously promoted as "environmentally friendly" because they produce more lumens of light per watt. But if we are to evaluate whether they are better or worse for the environment, there are many other factors to consider. The biggest promoters of these spiral bulbs have been the big light bulb corporations, including utility companies that are often owned by the same parent corporation. Most of the information being touted by environmental groups is actually originating from the marketing departments of these corporations. I think at least some level of suspicion is appropriate. Many of the statistics being put out can be misleading.
The questions environmental groups need to be asking is:
1. how much pollution does the production in China of a CFL bulb result in?
2. statistically how long will CFL bulbs last in real world situations?
3. how many CFL bulbs will be used in situations that will cause them to burn out faster?
4. will consumers actually take the trouble to recycle their CFLs?
5. how much energy does the recycling process consume to recover the mercury from these bulbs?
6. how much light are these CFL bulbs actually putting out, including at the beginning, after 6 months, and towards the end of the bulbs rated life?
7. How do the cheap inferior quality CFLs being sold in stores affect the statistics of how long these bulbs last, and how fast they begin to lose their light output as they age?
7. How much energy do incandescent bulbs save on heating energy? Are CFLs still a good idea in colder climates?
8. CFLs have worse performance in several specific situations. Considering this decrease in performance, is it still worth phasing out incandescent bulbs?
9. Do environmental considerations outweigh potential health problems these bulbs may cause for a small group of people? Statistically how much pollution will result from the increase in health problems?
As you can see, there are a lot of factors to consider.
CFLs can potentially save energy in some situations, but in other situations their energy savings may be much less, or even worse for the environment. Much depends on how educated consumers are about the complexities of knowing where and whether to use CFLs.
Because there are so many inferior quality CFLs being sold, the fire hazard of using CFLs are also greater than using a regular incandescent bulb. While the danger of fire is still very small, this could still be significant consideration. If one house fire will result from every 10,000 CFL bulbs sold, will the energy savings from the 10,000 CFL bulbs be greater than the total pollution resulting from the 1 house fire? Think about the repainting and replacement of belongings, and the workers who will have to drive their trucks to do the special cleaning. The financial risk alone might completely negate any environmental benefit, let alone the tremendous pollution a house fire can indirectly cause.
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