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.
Read the Green Lighting Guide
Read the Green Lighting Guide
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 Sean 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.
Read the Green Lighting Guide
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 Sean 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...@wvgazette.com or 304-348-1702.
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 www.ewg.org.
Post a comment