A Bright Idea: Eco-Conscious Lighting
by Blake Frino
The use of incandescent bulbs has slowly faded since fluorescent lighting took to the socket in recent years. Their energy-saving power and lasting use creates less of an impact on landfills as well as consumers, where there isn’t much need to replace them.
I was thrilled when I bought my compact fluorescent light bulb (CFL), which is Energy Star rated. I thought I was taking part in the green movement. And although they are a little pricier than incandescent bulbs, their longer lifespan and lower energy consumption allows you to reap the benefits. Unfortunately, they do contain mercury, which is not good for the environment when added to landfills.
However, as with anything, a better prelude to this has evolved in the last six years, and is gradually being brought to consumers’ attention. LEDs (light emitting diodes) are more energy-efficient and eco-friendly than the above. And so much of what we already use, for instance alarm clocks, encompasses this kind of lighting.
LEDs are made of solid-state electronic component (circuit boards). An electric current is sent from the circuit board to a small semi-conductor or diode that produces light. These diodes are illuminated by the movement of electrons, unlike conventional incandescent lamps, which get their light from filament and gas, producing a significant amount of heat and wasted energy.
The average lifespan of LEDs is 20 to 30 times more than incandescent. They last up to 50,000 hours vs. incandescent that lasts 2,000 hours, and twice the amount of fluorescents.
You also get more for your watt. Again, they may cost more initially, but you don’t have to replace them nearly as often. Incandescent lamps burn at 20 watts, compared to LED’s 3 watts.
CFLs are more accessible than LEDs and are still a better choice than the incandescent light bulbs. Using CFLs is the first step to moving into green lighting, but let’s hope that once LEDs are highlighted in a broader spectrum we will all be applying them to our homes.
For more information on CFLs such as how to dispose of them, visit www.energystar.gov.