us solar panel production
“Green” Electronic Devices?
Ok, so in the US now because of the recently signed energy bill, by 2014 the Federal Government will be FORCING private citizens to use only specific types of lightbulbs, banning the incandescent almost completely.
These lightbulbs, along with “green” vehicles, solar panels, etc. might save a few dollars off the electric bill. Have the tree huggers stopped to think about just how much MORE energy goes into making these products?
Flourescent Lightbulbs:
#1 MOST are made in China, in COAL FIRED plants under near slave-labor conditions.
#2 The levels of Mercury, lead, and other heavy metals used to produce these FAR surpass those used in regular light bulbs.
#3 How about the production of the gas that fills these light bulbs?
#4 And when the bulbs need replaced, we just bury them in the earth? – VERY FEW people actualy recycle them.
What are your thoughts on this? Do you honestly think this is all worth the hype and greater control over our lives by the government?
We’re being forced to buy HD tvs too, so what’s your point?
IF fluorescent light bulbs are such a bad idea, why does EVERY retail store in existence use them? Because they’re CHEAPER to run and use less energy.
#1. Any sources to back up this claim?
#2. “the amount of mercury in a CFL is only 5 milligrams. Compare that to a standard household thermometer, which is 500 milligrams.” (see my source below)
Instead of a filament lit up with electrical energy, there are two main parts in a CFL: a gas-filled tube (also called bulb or burner) and the magnetic or electronic ballast; those with magnetic ballasts tend to flicker more, so electronic ballasts are being used with increasing frequency. When you flip the switch, electrical energy, in the form of an electrical current from the ballast, flows through the gas, causing it to emit ultraviolet light. The ultraviolet light then excites a phosphor coating on the inside of the tube, which then emits visible light. Far out, huh?
One of the most contentious points about widespread use of CFLs is that they contain small amounts of mercury. However, because CFLs use so much less energy than their incandescent counterparts, CFLs are responsible for less mercury contamination than the incandescent bulbs they replaced, even though incandescents don’t contain any mercury. How does that work?
The highest source of mercury in America’s air and water results from the burning of fossil fuels, such as coal, at utilities that supply electricity; incandescents burn way more energy, so, on a macro level, require much more energy to be produced. When that energy comes from fossil fuels, like coal (which most of America’s energy does), it causes more mercury to be emitted. Additionally, the National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) have made a voluntary commitment to cap the amount of mercury used in CFLs: “Under the voluntary commitment, effective April 15, 2007, NEMA members will cap the total mercury content in CFLs of less than 25 watts at 5 milligrams (mg) per unit. The total mercury content of CFLs that use 25 to 40 watts of electricity will be capped at 6 mg per unit.”
Still, concerns exist about the mercury escaping from broken CFL bulbs, as safe disposal requires storing the bulbs unbroken until they can be processed. The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has published guidelines on how to clean up after CFL tube (remember, that’s the “bulb”) breakage and recommends that, in the absence of more specific local guidelines, CFLs be double-bagged in plastic bags before disposal. To properly dispose of the spent bulbs, CFLs need to be recycled by somebody that knows what they’re doing; often, that’s with the retailer or manufacturer from whom the bulb was purchased. If those options aren’t available to you, click on over to earth911.org to find a local CFL recycler. Though the mercury is unlikely to harm you or your family, let’s be clear about this: do not, we repeat, DO NOT toss your CFLs in the trash; putting them there greatly increases the chance of the mercury vapor escaping upon breakage, first exposing you and then the air and water around the landfill to the gas, which is bad news. So be careful with the bulbs, please.
#3. What about it?
#4. Home Depot, Lowes and other retailers are working on environmentally friendly ways to recycle the CFLs. And seeing as how the bulbs last so much longer than regular light bulbs, they’ve got some time.
Much of the energy used by regular light bulbs is given off as heat. CFL’s only produce light. If you can find me ONE major US retailer that doesn’t use fluorescent lights throughout their stores, I’ll swear off CFL’s. So I suppose you’re against mandatory emission standards on automobiles as well. Switching to CFLS will SAVE YOU MONEY! If you don’t want to save yourself money, then stick with the regular light bulbs until they’re no longer manufactured. That’s your choice. But when YOUR choice affects OTHER PEOPLE, it’s no longer YOUR choice.
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