Santa Monica Area Health, Beauty and Fitness | Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs Health And Environmental Dangers

ENERGY  SAVER  LIGHT  BULBS  HYPE  VS.  REALITY

Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs (CFLs) have been promoted as the next best thing to save energy and reduce our (first world) dependence on middle-east oil.  "If everyone just replaced one incandescent light bulb with a CFL ..."  The truth is, it would make some, but an insignificant, difference -- if any -- IF you consider ALL the costs of CFL use as opposed to incandescent bulb use.

Governments worldwide are joining the bandwagon to OUTLAW incandescent bulbs, and to require the use of CFLs instead.  To that I say:  Stock up on incandescents, now.

ECONOMICS,  AND  ENVIRONMENTAL  DANGERS

First, an economics lesson for the vast population which is ignorant of elementary economics:  If one mass produced item costs more than another, it is generally because the more expensive item has consumed more resources than the cheaper one in its manufacture.  Those resources include labor costs, manufacturing and assembly costs, and MATERIALS COSTS.  Materials costs include at the least, the costs of exploration (to find sources of the raw material), mining, drilling, refining, labor, transportation, and storage.

Compare the materials cost of an incandescent light bulb vs the cost of a compact fluorescent light bulb (CFL).

The incandescent bulb is comprised of cheap glass for the bulb and the matrix for holding the filament assembly.  Some cheap metals to go into the screw-in base and electrical contacts.  Maybe there's a bit of plastic in the base assembly.  The only semi-expensive material in the whole thing is the filament itself.  That's historically been tungsten, and only a minimal amount is required.

CFL bulbs have a spiral glass assembly of tough thick glass.  That is much more expensive than incandescent lamp glass bulbs, taking some convoluted manufacturing machinery to both form the spiral and to coat the inside with the various chemicals.  Mercury, a somewhat expensive material, is in there also.  And a major cost involving mercury is safely, properly handling it.  Did I mention that the cost of the mercury and handling it, is EXPENSIVE.  (Expense translates to manufacturing cost which translates to RETAIL cost.)

But wait, there's more.  The screw-in bases for CFLs, for whatever reason, are more substantial than the incandescent lamp bases.  More expense.  And, within those CFL bases is some complicated electronics -- the ballast, which gets the thing started and keeps it going.  (You will notice that the CFLs are NOT "instant on", especially the colder their environment, as are the simple incandescent bulbs.)

Bottom line, CFLs are more expensive because each takes more resources to make.  Sounds like an increased "carbon footprint" to me.

Then, we come to disposal.  In our world of uncontrolled overpopulation and population growth, you can't just toss stuff away, and expect it to have been reintegrated into the environment by the time the next person happens along.  In a sparsely populated world, there would be little cost for trash disposal.  In our world, where the population is burgeoning because ignorant semi-savages and religious wackos are spawning litters of more resource consumers, trash disposal is a major problem.

Burnt-out incandescent light bulbs cause negligible environmental problems.  There is nothing toxic to speak of in their ingredients.  Just toss them into the garbage. CFLs contain mercury.  That is an environmental problem if you toss them in the garbage.  As far as I am concerned, "Frankly, my dear, I don't give a damn."  But, if YOU give a damn, then you are supposed to be a good little environmentalist and fire up your gas burner and use $5.00 of gasoline to drop off the little pollutant reservoir at an "authorized" recycling center.  Or hop on a bus or walk or bicycle to make a special trip to do our civic duty.  Sure you will.  I don't and won't.

A note about earthquakes, tornadoes, and hurricanes/typhoons:  In those events, things break.  Light bulbs in lamp fixtures break.  The risk of the residue from broken incandescent bulbs is just that of the broken glass.  The risk of the residue from broken CFLs is that of the broken glass AND the mercury.  And that mercury will not have been disposed of in an environmentally safe proper manner.  Boo-hoo.

ECONOMIC  PROBLEMS  --  CFL  MONETARY  SAVINGS  QUESTIONABLE

In my personal experience, Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs (CFL bulbs) DO NOT have the long life touted.  They burn out at about the same rate as regular incandescent bulbs.  It seems to me that there is a bit of disingenuousness (at least) in how bulb life is estimated in comparison to that of regular incandescent light bulbs.

It may be quite likely that if you turn Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs (CFLs) on and LEAVE them on, they will last much longer than incandescent bulbs that you frequently turn on and off.  However, turning CFLs on and off in normal usage seriously shortens the lamp life just as that does to incandescent bulbs.

So, in my experience, the cost of purchasing and replacing the bulbs themselves over time is more than for incandescent bulbs.  They cost more individually and do not last much longer, if at all, than regular bulbs.  Now, the operating cost (energy usage) of the CFL bulbs IS definitely less than for incandescent bulbs.  But, I would say that the NET total comparative operating costs (bulbs plus energy) for the CFLs are more than for incandescent light bulbs.  I would be VERY surprised if anyone can show me a REAL-LIFE cost comparison where CFLs comes out lower in TOTAL costs (purchase, operating, and DISPOSAL [environmental] costs).

Considering the potential health and environmental problems, I do not see any advantage in using CFLs instead of incandescents for the reasons commonly promoted by the politicians, environmentalist, and bulb manufacturers.  The ONLY reason I use a few CFLS in a few selected areas is to reduce radiant HEAT LOAD.  (CFLs do consume less wattage for comparable lumen output.  With incandescent bulbs, the excess energy (wattage) consumed in excess of producing the same lumen output is directly radiated as heat -- that is, in the infrared wavelengths as opposed to the visible light wavelengths.)

OTHER  CFL  PROBLEMS

Radio Frequency (RFI) Interference with Radio and TV -- CFLs emit electromagnetic radiation.  If a CFL fixture is operating near a radio or over-the-air-reception television set, the radio and TV reception is degraded.

Radio Frequency (RF) Interference with Your Brain -- We are awash in electromagnetic radiation.  For years, it was just radio and television broadcast transmitters in addition to the natural background radiation from the sun and universe that we were exposed to.  But now, an even larger and more serious exposure is that due to cell-phones and WiFi.  The receiver/transmitter towers that are rising everywhere have increased everyone's exposure, cell-phone or WiFi user or not.  Then, all those dimwits with cell-phones perpetually stuck in their ears are well on the way to adding themselves to the increasing brain-tumor epidemic statistics.  To add to that, as with radios and TVs, situating yourself within a few feet of an operating compact fluorescent light bulb subjects you to an additional dose of RF energy.

Limited Ambient Operating Temperature Range -- The CFL bulbs will not start at all at ambient temperatures below 5°F or so.  So they are unsuitable for outdoor use in cold climates.

Instant On? -- Related to the ambient operating temperature range, the lower the ambient temperature, the longer it takes CFLs to warm up and achieve their maximum brightness.  Even in a cool room (60-65°F or so), which is nowhere near the minimum stated ambient, it can take several minutes for CFLs to warm up and achieve their maximum brightness.

Can't Be Used with Dimmers -- Because CFLs require the full nominal 120 VAC line voltage to operate, they cannot be used with lamp dimmers.  Conventional incandescent bulbs operate just fine with the different voltage outputs that dimmer controls provide.

Flicker-Free? -- Just as do the office type fluorescent light tubes, CFLs frequently start flickering before their end-of-life.  So, while they may not have technically "failed", that makes then useless.

Brightness Decreases Over Time -- I have noticed that even after many CFL lamp bulbs have warmed up, that over their lifetimes, the maximum brightness achieved decreases.  So while the manufacturers' lumen output rating may be as advertised when the bulb is new, it often is not towards end-of-life.

CONCLUSION

To my mind, the whole push to using CFLs to the exclusion of incandescents is another trendy political parade led by, on the one hand, scientific ignoramuses and politicians on the make.  The other group beating the drum is the manufacturers who can sell a higher priced, higher profit margin item that, in reality, does not last any longer than the incandescent bulb alternative.

MY  PERSONAL  EXPERIENCE  WITH  CFLs

Over the last three years or so, I have bought, used, and REPLACED many compact fluorescent lamp bulbs aka energy saver light bulbs.  Now, as they burn out, I am replacing them with conventional incandescent bulbs again.  There are only few locations where I may keep CFLs installed.  Those are in a few fixtures where I want more light output than can be provided by incandescent bulbs, given the wattage rating of the fixtures.

TYPICAL  MANUFACTURER'S  PACKAGING  FINE  PRINT  EXCERPTS

Reliable starting to 5°F (-15°C).  Lamp requires a short warm up period to reach full brightness.  This product complies with part 18 of the FCC Rules, but may cause interference with radios, televisions, wireless telephones, and remote controls.  Avoid placing this product near these devices.  If interference occurs, move the product away from the device or plug either into a different outlet.  Do not install this device near maritime safety equipment or other critical navigation or communication equipment operating between 0.45-30 MHz.  Not intended for use with emergency exit fixtures or lights, electronic timers, photocells, or with dimmers.  Lamp contains mercury.  Manage in accordance with disposal laws.

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