2007-07-12 02:18:22 · 7 answers · asked by Mike W 1 in Home & Garden ➔ Decorating & Remodeling
Compared to regular bulbs, in some ways they are worse, in some ways they are better. They contain a little bit of mercury, which isn't good (but can be countered by proper disposal). And they require more resources in thier production. But on the flip-side, they use less electricity and last longer.
2007-07-12 02:23:02 · answer #1 · answered by firstythirsty 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
No. Using compact fluorescent lights (CFLs) actually reduces mercury pollution.
Fossil fuels contain mercury. Using incandescent bulbs causes more mercury to be emitted from power plants. More than the tiny amount (0.005 grams or less) that is in a CFL.
It's better if you dispose of old CFLs properly so that even the tiny amount of mercury is not released. But, no matter how they're disposed of, CFLs reduce mercury pollution.
And breaking a compact fluorescent bulb isn't that big a deal. The main things are to sweep it up, not vacuum it up, and to not cut yourself on the glass. More details here;
http://www.cityofberkeley.info/sustainable/Powerplay%20articles/16Powerplay.Mercury.CFL.html
http://www.snopes.com/medical/toxins/cfl.asp
2007-07-13 17:19:40 · answer #2 · answered by Bob 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Fluorescent lamps all contain mercury vapor which is what lights up inside the tube. Mercury and mercury vapor is supposed to be bad for the environment.
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2007-07-12 09:41:35 · answer #3 · answered by Jacob W 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
yes they are very bad for the environment. what the global warming people won't tell you is that flourescent lights contain mecury. mercury at any level can produce illness. imagine the toxic waste in the landfills which will eventually get into the ground water. the major news networks had a story on that a lady was trying to go green and was installing a compact light in her daughters room and it fell and broke on the floor. the county and state did test in the room. the results were that in cost her $2500 to get the mess cleaned up
2007-07-12 09:31:50 · answer #4 · answered by John 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Compact fluorescent light bulbs contaminate the environment with 30000 pounds of mercury each year.
2007-07-12 09:22:02 · answer #5 · answered by Darrell D 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The bulb itself can be bad, but the energy it saves is far more helpful.
2007-07-12 09:23:02 · answer #6 · answered by MajorTom © 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No, i never heard that, what i've heard is that they are cheaper in your pocket than the regular.
2007-07-12 09:28:07 · answer #7 · answered by Olga M 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋