Artwork by Madam Toussaint

What is a green/energy saving light bulb?
They’re called compact fluorescent light bulbs. They’re are the ones with the squiggly top instead of an actual bulb. The ones with the bulb shape at the top or the regular ones are called incandescent light bulbs.

Oprah likes energy saving light bulbs.
On one of her green shows Oprah had on eco enthusiast Leonardo DiCaprio on. He endorsed CFL bulbs and so did she. That’s probably a good enough reason to like anything, but they save electricity which is good for the environment and saves you money on your electric bill. They also seem like a good way to do your part and go green.

They can make you sick and harm the environment.
Some of the same components of a regular light bulb are used to make green light bulbs, but what make then efficient is what can harm you: Mercury. “More often than not, their toxic ingredients simply end up in landfills, where the chemicals can leach into soil and water and poison fish and other wildlife.” They should not be thrown in the trash like other light bulbs. They must be disposed of differently, especially if they are broken.

They’re still worth using.
“‘They’re very efficient, but once they’re used up they become a ticking toxic time bomb,’ said Leonard Robinson, chief deputy director of the California Department of Toxic Substances Control.” While you should be careful with them because “the bulbs remain a good choice for the environmentally conscious, however, because the amount of mercury they contain is less than what is generated in the production of the extra electricity required to light an incandescent bulb.”

Can I recycle them?
They can be recycled but some counties aren’t equipped to because they need some special considerations due to their mercury content. Keep in mind your thermometer contains much more mercury than a CFL bulb, but it adds up.

To learn more check out ‘Green’ Light Bulbs Pack Toxic Ingredient

Be Sociable, Share!

•