CFL differences: an EWG guidebook: Building a better CFL - with far less mercury

[Guest guest]

Building a better bulb

Not all compact fluorescent light bulbs are created equal

Compact fluorescent light bulbs are not all created equal, and federal

regulators should start telling consumers the difference, according to a

new report from the Washington-based Environmental Working Group.

By Ken Ward Jr.

Staff writer

http://sundaygazettemail.com/News/200812270649

*Read the Green Lighting Guide*

http://www.ewg.org/greenlightbulbs

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Compact fluorescent light bulbs are not all created

equal, and federal regulators should start telling consumers the

difference, according to a new report from the Washington-based

Environmental Working Group.

Some types and brands of the bulbs - known as CFLs - last far longer

than others and also contain much lower levels of toxic mercury,

according to the group's report, " Lighten Up in '09. "

According to the Environmental Working Group, the U.S. Environmental

Protection Agency has granted its Energy Star seal of approval to " a

vast array of CFL bulbs, including a number of inferior models with

unnecessarily high mercury levels and mediocre lifespans. "

" Energy Star labels can be found on the most efficient, safest bulbs

available, as well as on some of the worst, misleading the consumer and

giving manufacturers zero incentive to make a greener bulb, " said EWG

senior analyst Gray.

" The Obama administration needs to reinvigorate the Energy Star program

to drive innovation in safety and efficiency of home and business

lighting, " Gray said.

Government, lighting industry and environmental groups all agree that

CFL bulbs can be a prudent choice: Each bulb uses about 75 percent less

energy than its incandescent counterpart, lasts at least 10 times longer

and prevents more than 450 pounds of greenhouse gas emissions.

The EPA estimates that if every American home replaced just one bulb

with an Energy Star qualified bulb, the country would save enough energy

to light more than 3 million homes for a year, reduce energy costs by

more than $600 million annually, and prevent the greenhouse gas

equivalent of 800,000 cars.

CFL bulbs have been gaining popularity. Quality has improved, prices

have dropped, and a wider variety of styles have become available. Also,

some big-box retailers like Wal-Mart have begun encouraging customers to

switch to CFL bulbs. During the third quarter of 2008, one in four bulbs

sold in the United States was a CFL.

CFL bulbs contain mercury, creating a quandary for disposal and

potential dangers when bulbs are broken. But Environmental Working Group

said mercury pollution from broken bulbs is offset, and more, by larger

gains from energy conservation.

Coal-fired power plants are a major source of mercury emissions,

totaling 104 tons of mercury nationally each year. The government

estimates that each CFL bulb generates 70 percent less mercury pollution

than a comparable incandescent bulb.

In its review, Environmental Working Group found that seven bulb lines

made by Earthmate, Litetronics, Sylvania, Feit, MaxLite, and Philips

contained a fraction of the mercury allowed by Energy Star. Some bulbs

contained just 1 milligram to 2.7 milligrams of mercury, compared with

the Energy Star standard of 5 milligrams.

These same low-mercury bulbs also last up to 12,000 hours - much longer

than the Energy Star standard of 6,000 hours, according to the EWG report.

The U.S. Department of Energy and EPA jointly administer the Energy Star

program, created under the 1990 Clean Air Act, as a voluntary labeling

program to identify the most energy-efficient household products.

The Environmental Working Group report echoes previous criticism of

Energy Star, and a similar government program called Energy Guide, in

studies issued in recent years by the EPA Inspector General and the

congressional Government Accountability Office.

In March, DOE had proposed to update its Energy Star standards for CFL

bulbs. New rules to ratchet up the energy-efficient requirements,

tighten other performance measures and, for the first time, set a cap on

mercury content, were scheduled to take effect Dec. 2.

But in mid-October, DOE officials " made a concession to industry

officials because of the souring economy, " according to the

Environmental Working Group.

DOE gave industry a six-month grace period, delaying the standards until

July 1, 2009, so that the U.S. inventory of about 100 million bulbs made

under 2003 specifications could be sold.

Environmental Working Group recommended the Obama administration take a

number of steps to improve the Energy Star program for CFL bulbs:

# Lower the maximum mercury content for bulbs to qualify from 5

milligrams to 3 milligrams. This would save 225 pounds of mercury for

every 100 million bulbs.

# Create a tiered rating system to reward creative companies that

produce the highest efficiency, longest-lived bulbs with the lowest

mercury content.

# Update minimum requirements every 2 years instead of every 5 years, to

take advantage of rapidly changing technology and fierce competition

among bulb makers vying for bigger shares of the green-products market.

# Adopt an independently verifiable mercury content limit for CFL bulbs.

Energy Star currently requires only that the manufacturers file

statements about bulb mercury content with the National Electrical

Manufacturers Association.

Reach Ken Ward Jr. at kw...@... or .

CFL bulb buying checklist

# Environmental Working Group found seven bulb lines with much lower

mercury levels: Earthmate, Litetronics, Sylvania, Feit, MaxLite, and

Philips.

# Start with the fixtures you use the most - Choose CFLs for locations

where breakage is rare, for instance, for ceiling fixtures rather than

table lamps in high traffic areas.

# Buy a few test bulbs of several brands and try them out in different

areas. With standard use, CFLs will last a long time, and you want to be

comfortable with their quality of light.

# Buy CFL bulbs with the lowest mercury content - The Energy Star logo

is not a good indicator of low-mercury bulbs.

# Don't use CFL bulbs where mercury exposure is unacceptable or cleanup

is difficult - children's rooms, playrooms, recreation rooms,

workbenches or near irreplaceable rugs.

# Don't use CFLs in closets and other spots lit for short periods - CFLs

take 10 to 15 minutes to reach optimum light and energy efficiency.

For more tips on CFL bulbs and a complete buying guide, visit

http://www.ewg.org/greenlightbulbs

..

[Guest guest]

There are also ones that contain 'full spectrum light' and bulbs that

are supposedly sealed so that mercury vapors are not outgased as the

bulb is used.

>

> Building a better bulb

>

> Not all compact fluorescent light bulbs are created equal

>

> Compact fluorescent light bulbs are not all created equal, and

federal

> regulators should start telling consumers the difference, according

to a

> new report from the Washington-based Environmental Working Group.

>

> By Ken Ward Jr.

> Staff writer

> http://sundaygazettemail.com/News/200812270649

>

> *Read the Green Lighting Guide*

> http://www.ewg.org/greenlightbulbs

>

>

> CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Compact fluorescent light bulbs are not all

created

> equal, and federal regulators should start telling consumers the

> difference, according to a new report from the Washington-based

> Environmental Working Group.

>

> Some types and brands of the bulbs - known as CFLs - last far

longer

> than others and also contain much lower levels of toxic mercury,

> according to the group's report, " Lighten Up in '09. "

>

> According to the Environmental Working Group, the U.S.

Environmental

> Protection Agency has granted its Energy Star seal of approval

to " a

> vast array of CFL bulbs, including a number of inferior models with

> unnecessarily high mercury levels and mediocre lifespans. "

>

> " Energy Star labels can be found on the most efficient, safest

bulbs

> available, as well as on some of the worst, misleading the consumer

and

> giving manufacturers zero incentive to make a greener bulb, " said

EWG

> senior analyst Gray.

>

> " The Obama administration needs to reinvigorate the Energy Star

program

> to drive innovation in safety and efficiency of home and business

> lighting, " Gray said.

>

> Government, lighting industry and environmental groups all agree

that

> CFL bulbs can be a prudent choice: Each bulb uses about 75 percent

less

> energy than its incandescent counterpart, lasts at least 10 times

longer

> and prevents more than 450 pounds of greenhouse gas emissions.

>

> The EPA estimates that if every American home replaced just one

bulb

> with an Energy Star qualified bulb, the country would save enough

energy

> to light more than 3 million homes for a year, reduce energy costs

by

> more than $600 million annually, and prevent the greenhouse gas

> equivalent of 800,000 cars.

>

> CFL bulbs have been gaining popularity. Quality has improved,

prices

> have dropped, and a wider variety of styles have become available.

Also,

> some big-box retailers like Wal-Mart have begun encouraging

customers to

> switch to CFL bulbs. During the third quarter of 2008, one in four

bulbs

> sold in the United States was a CFL.

>

> CFL bulbs contain mercury, creating a quandary for disposal and

> potential dangers when bulbs are broken. But Environmental Working

Group

> said mercury pollution from broken bulbs is offset, and more, by

larger

> gains from energy conservation.

>

> Coal-fired power plants are a major source of mercury emissions,

> totaling 104 tons of mercury nationally each year. The government

> estimates that each CFL bulb generates 70 percent less mercury

pollution

> than a comparable incandescent bulb.

>

> In its review, Environmental Working Group found that seven bulb

lines

> made by Earthmate, Litetronics, Sylvania, Feit, MaxLite, and

Philips

> contained a fraction of the mercury allowed by Energy Star. Some

bulbs

> contained just 1 milligram to 2.7 milligrams of mercury, compared

with

> the Energy Star standard of 5 milligrams.

>

> These same low-mercury bulbs also last up to 12,000 hours - much

longer

> than the Energy Star standard of 6,000 hours, according to the EWG

report.

>

> The U.S. Department of Energy and EPA jointly administer the Energy

Star

> program, created under the 1990 Clean Air Act, as a voluntary

labeling

> program to identify the most energy-efficient household products.

>

> The Environmental Working Group report echoes previous criticism of

> Energy Star, and a similar government program called Energy Guide,

in

> studies issued in recent years by the EPA Inspector General and the

> congressional Government Accountability Office.

>

> In March, DOE had proposed to update its Energy Star standards for

CFL

> bulbs. New rules to ratchet up the energy-efficient requirements,

> tighten other performance measures and, for the first time, set a

cap on

> mercury content, were scheduled to take effect Dec. 2.

>

> But in mid-October, DOE officials " made a concession to industry

> officials because of the souring economy, " according to the

> Environmental Working Group.

>

> DOE gave industry a six-month grace period, delaying the standards

until

> July 1, 2009, so that the U.S. inventory of about 100 million bulbs

made

> under 2003 specifications could be sold.

>

> Environmental Working Group recommended the Obama administration

take a

> number of steps to improve the Energy Star program for CFL bulbs:

> # Lower the maximum mercury content for bulbs to qualify from 5

> milligrams to 3 milligrams. This would save 225 pounds of mercury

for

> every 100 million bulbs.

> # Create a tiered rating system to reward creative companies that

> produce the highest efficiency, longest-lived bulbs with the lowest

> mercury content.

> # Update minimum requirements every 2 years instead of every 5

years, to

> take advantage of rapidly changing technology and fierce

competition

> among bulb makers vying for bigger shares of the green-products

market.

> # Adopt an independently verifiable mercury content limit for CFL

bulbs.

> Energy Star currently requires only that the manufacturers file

> statements about bulb mercury content with the National Electrical

> Manufacturers Association.

>

> Reach Ken Ward Jr. at kw...@... or .

>

> CFL bulb buying checklist

> # Environmental Working Group found seven bulb lines with much

lower

> mercury levels: Earthmate, Litetronics, Sylvania, Feit, MaxLite,

and

> Philips.

> # Start with the fixtures you use the most - Choose CFLs for

locations

> where breakage is rare, for instance, for ceiling fixtures rather

than

> table lamps in high traffic areas.

> # Buy a few test bulbs of several brands and try them out in

different

> areas. With standard use, CFLs will last a long time, and you want

to be

> comfortable with their quality of light.

> # Buy CFL bulbs with the lowest mercury content - The Energy Star

logo

> is not a good indicator of low-mercury bulbs.

> # Don't use CFL bulbs where mercury exposure is unacceptable or

cleanup

> is difficult - children's rooms, playrooms, recreation rooms,

> workbenches or near irreplaceable rugs.

> # Don't use CFLs in closets and other spots lit for short periods -

CFLs

> take 10 to 15 minutes to reach optimum light and energy efficiency.

>

> For more tips on CFL bulbs and a complete buying guide, visit

> http://www.ewg.org/greenlightbulbs

>

>

>

> .

>

>

>

>

>

>