|
The Government of Canada recently introduced new energy efficiency standards, which will phase out the use of inefficient light bulbs by 2012. One of the more popular replacements is the compact fluorescent light bulb (CFL) – the “curly” one. Although they cost a bit more, CFLs use much less energy than conventional incandescent light bulbs and can last up to 10 times longer, paying for themselves many times over in energy savings and convenience.
Many homeowners may not be aware that both compact fluorescent light bulbs and fluorescent tubes contain mercury. In order to reduce the amount of mercury entering the environment, The City of Red Deer is now accepting fluorescent light bulbs as part of its existing household hazardous waste program. Mercury will be safely removed and the bulbs will be crushed and sent away for recycling.
The average CFL light bulb contains roughly enough mercury to cover the tip of a ball-point pen. As with all fluorescent bulbs, the mercury in CFLs is contained within the glass tubing but will be released if the bulb is broken. Because the amount of mercury contained within CFLs is very small, a broken CFL does not pose an immediate health risk. However, since mercury can cause neurological damage if inhaled or otherwise absorbed by the body, all fluorescent light bulbs should be handled carefully and broken bulbs should be cleaned up properly.
At room temperature, the mercury within fluorescent bulbs is chemically joined with phosphorous and can be seen as a white powder, however during operation, the mercury turns to vapour. Contact with either the powder or the vapour should be avoided. If you break a fluorescent light bulb in your home, follow appropriate broken fluorescent bulb cleanup procedures to reduce your potential mercury exposure. You may also want to consider purchasing “low mercury” or environmentally friendly bulbs. These bulbs typically have a green socket or end cap for easy identification.
Even though CFLs contain mercury, they are still more environmentally friendly than traditional incandescent bulbs. This is because the largest source of air borne mercury comes from coal burning power plants, the most common source of electricity in Alberta. Using energy efficient CFLs helps to reduce
mercury emissions from power plants and lower the total amount of mercury entering the environment. Plus, reducing energy use also reduces greenhouse gas emissions and the need to build new generation facilities.
| 
