Free Yahoo! CFL bulb campaign worse for the environment?

Question

When Yahoo! sends each person a free CFL bulb, do you think it emits more carbon from transportation then it saves when it is installed?

Something tells me that's a big yes.

Answer 1

Good point, I think people don't often enough think about these kind of issues. People want to buy certified organic and such, but they never stop to think about what it takes to get it halfway across the country.

And as mentioned before, you can't simply use these bulbs and throw them away when they are finished. They contain mercury which is very hazardous to soil and water. While its only a small amount of Hg and a few people throwing them away isn't going to hurt anything, but the same could be said for CO2 emissions. In a few years a lot of people are going to be using CFLs, they are even thinking about outlawing incadesants. I sure hope they start advertising proper disposal to all of these people they are trying to sell them to, CO2 = global warming isn't yet proven, Hg = environmental damage is.

I think Yahoo has good intentions with this, but I'm really starting to have doubts about all of the green advertisement and politicts.

Answer 2

Each bulb would last somewhere around 10,000 hours, saving (assuming an 11w bulb compared to a 60w incandescent) 50 watts or so per hour. That is a significant savings.

In addition, you would have the effects of reduced materials (several standard bulbs needed over that time) and less mercury (the generation of the extra energy would result in more mercury waste than if you are using a CF). You could add in other factors, such as the cost of mitigating global warming caused by incandescents.

I do not know the conversion from watts of energy to the transportation cost of a single light-bulb sized item over existing mail carriers (no trip is being taken just for a CF, but the CF bulb could exert some cost on the mail system for transportation). How to quantify this, I am not sure, but it is likely a very small incremental cost to send that one bulb through the mail, and I am guessing smaller than the energy saved by the bulb over the lifetime.

Even if the cost WERE bigger for the transportation, the awareness raised may be well worth the cost. If Yahoo! sends you one bulb, but you learn how great it is and change the rest of your home, then we all come out ahead.

Answer 3

I would say no. There isn't going to be an increase in pollution because the same amount would have happened anyway. Packaging may be another story, but that too would be minimal.

As for all of the Mercury concerns, that depends on the type of lamp that yahoo is sending. All manufacturers (which by the way GE is one so they wouldn't be behind the smear campaign) are now producing low mercury lamps which can be disposed of by traditional manners (throwing it in the trash can). This mercury content will be the standard in a couple for years and the old "high mercury" lamps will be completely phased out with the exception of the older T12 lamps which are very seldom used in residential applications anyway.

Since the lamps that will be given away will almost surely be the "screw in" type then ballast disposal will not be a huge issue either.

Answer 4

Well, I never thought about that. But what I did think of is why would they give free bulbs.

Well, I'd say no to your question. Those are special light bulbs that use less power. They save energy. Transportation for these bulbs don't emit a lot of carbon. It wouldn't be much harm to the community, either.

Answer 5

Although the act of mailing bulbs will require the use of transportation that emits co2 emissions, and the boxes that must be used to ship require the dreaded gas, I believe that Yahoo is trying to change the way people do things in the future. It's an attempt to change hearts; a worthy effort.

Peace. Keep Green!!

Answer 6

I appluad Yahoo for the innovative idea.

I hope to get some CFL's for free. They are pricey and I have been hoping to replace my home bulbs with them so this offer is appealing.

The mail man was going to stop at my house even if the bulbs werent sent, some walmart flyer or something was bound to show up. So I dont think this campaign worsened the environment, the awareness is worth it.

Answer 7

It may but when people get these bulbs they may actually start purchasing them when they see a difference in their electricity bills. So it may emit more carbon from the transportation but at the same time people may be trying something they have never tried before and actually like it and start purchasing it and educating others once they use it....so i truely believe it is a good idea and will end the end make a difference....

Answer 8

That is true. But the real problem comes in when you accidentally break one of those puppies. The clean up costs are astronomical compared to the "savings".

Then too disposal becomes a problem as the contents of the bulb are considered hazardous waste.

But some folks just won't give up on a bad idea.

Answer 9

beggars can't be choosers. Actually, I want it because it is free, with out even knowing what CFL is? Canadian Football League? The delivery won't matter because they have to deliver mail and all the other goodies anyway, the bulb will be just coming along for the ride, nothing special in the delivery

Answer 10

Delivering a coupon or light bulb to my house is not going to make an impact on the environment.
It's what people will do with the bulbs after they have burnt out that concerns me. All flourescent bulbs contain Mercury, and they need to be disposed of (recylced) properly.. not in the trash where they will leach toxins into a landfill.