Traditional light bulbs are a 125-year-old technology and their useful life is coming to an end. A good thing, too. How much 1879-era technology do you still use? I'm guessing you didn't commute to work today on a horse, and you probably sent an email to a colleague on the West Coast instead of using Pony Express. So why are some people still using ancient incandescent bulbs?
Manufacturers and environmentalists are working on a nationwide energy-saving standard that, if enacted by Congress, would relegate incandescent light bulbs to history museums in about ten years and produce major cuts in the nation's electricity costs, according to The Wall Street Journal ("Households Would Need New Bulbs To Meet Lighting-Efficiency Rule"). An important positive side effect, especially in communities like ours that rely on coal-burning power plants, would be less mercury emissions. A few key points from the article...
- "The Senate Energy Committee estimates a shift from the standard tungsten filament incandescent bulb and other relatively inefficient forms of lighting would save $18 billion in electricity costs every year."
- Less need for electricity would mean less need to burn coal, which is how JEA generates almost all of its power. "Burning coal releases pollutants including carbon dioxide, which scientists think is accelerating climate change, and mercury, which can damage the nervous systems of small children."
- Of course, if you use efficient compact fluorescent lights (CFLs) make sure you dispose of them properly. "...CFLs include a tiny amount of mercury that would require their disposal through recycling programs."
"Estimated savings for one year if all general-service incandescent lamps were replaced with energy-saving lights..."
Halogen energy saver - 1,600 lbs of mercury emissions saved, $4.9 billion electricity bill savings
CFL lamp - 4,500 lbs, $14 billion
LED, 50 lumens/watt - 4,300 lbs, $13 billion
LED, 100 lumens/watt - 5,300 lbs, $16 billion
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