CFL light bulbs better than incandescent? I think NOT!
1. They are more expensive than the incandescent light bulb.
2. They are ugly.
3. Since they last so long, they are likely to get dusty and difficult to clean.
4. They contain mercury so if they break, you have potential mercury exposure.
5. They cannot be thrown in the regular garbage because of the mercury.
6. Who is really going to recycle them properly? Who is really that considerate and responsible?
7. In a landfill, many will likely create more environmental issues because of all the mercury.
8. The lighting from the CFL isn't as bright as the incandescent.
They have their good points and bad points, but since many people don't discard them properly, the risks from them outweigh the benefits in the long term. That is my opinion. I just cannot see how they are "greener" if they pollute the earth with mercury.
Since much of the electricity produced in the US is from coal, you actually liberate more mercury (and uranium, and thorium, and other nasty heavy metals) by burning more coal. So by buying CFL bulbs and reducing your electricity usage, you are net helping.
ReplyDeleteOf course, bringing your bulb back to Wallmart or Home Depot which have recycling for the bulbs is important too.
In the long run, yes, it would be better to go to a different technology, like LED light bulbs. But until those are available and cheap, CFL is the way to go. AND they save you money because they use less electricity. You may not see the money, but if you add it up, they pay for themselves many times over.