Cfl Vs Lead Lights
For households converting to efficient ,lighting by 2012 ,there is more than one worthwhile option avaible ,but the choice between them may just down to your pocket.
How many years does it take to change a light bulb? Five, according to the government‘s 2007 plan to phase out century – old incandescent bulb technology, by 2012 .Come the end of this year, you’ll be hard -pressed to find an incandescent light bulb for sale anywhere in Austalia.If you’ve ever the mistake of touching a light bulb that’s just gone out, you won’t be surprised to read that the old per shaped light bulb with tiny filaments inside waste around 90 percent of their energy producing unnecessary heat.
A 2009 , UK –based study suggested replacement of incandescent bulbs with cfl reduces lighting electricity use by around 50 percent but users dissatisfaction , with cfl performance means an incandescent phase –out might cause some householders to switch to tungsten halogen bulbs rather than low –energy options .
Australia’s move to more efficient alternating will reduce greenhouse emissions by an estimated four million tonnes a year, but consumers who have to change their light bulbs are now faced with a dilemma are cal ‘s the only alternative ? And what choice is best for the environment?
The Front runners: CFLs versus LEDs
Despite costing more than incandescent bulbs, Compact Fluorescent light bulbs ( CFLs )have been the poster- child of efficient lighting alternatives for over a decade because they last up to 10 times longer than incandescent bulb and use just 20 per cent of this energy . But concerts are rising about the safe disposal of cfl , which contain about 5 mg of mercury in each bulb .There are currently more than 100,000 Cfl bulb in use in Australia and few recycling options ,so most will get tossed out , potentially leaching significant quanties of mercury into landfill or releasing a toxic vapour called methyl to surrounding .
Recycling depots for cfl exist around the country , but tubes often break in transit .An Australian invention a portable cfl recycling machine called tube terminator which traps mercury vapour and extracts glass and metals for separate recycling ,may resolve these problems in the future. Enter light Emitting Diodes ( LEDs) which first made a commercial appearance in computers of the 1960’s but were not practically usable in domestic lighting until recently .
An Led isn typically made of silicon containing minute chemical compounds that glows when electricity passes through it. There’s no known environment risk for their disposal .Led lamps typically comprise aluminium and glass, both easily recycled. Lasting up to 50 times that of an incandescent ,bulb the new LEDs use less power than CFLs to generate similar amounts of light.
Weighing up the cost
In terms of their over life ,LEDs pip CFLs for energy use .Researchers at Carnegie Mellon University ran a life cycle assessment calculating the amount of energy needed to manufacture and then run three types of light source for 25,000 hours.
They found that the energy required for standard incandescent bulbs was 1,500 kilowatt-hours (kfh),for compact fluorescent 320 K wh and for LEDs ,just 280 kWh .However ,LEDs cost much more to purchase than CFL s and there are far fewer options on the market .Customers are put on the spot between their wallet and the environment ,”’says Sean Clough , of eco – lighting distributors bright green.
He says quality control issues have plagued some imported LED bulbs, but locally produced bulbs are very reliable.
Lights in Action
As CFLs provide a very similar lighting experience to the incandescent bulb and as government – funded samples have been distributed literally, they’ve been adopted quite happily.
But there are downsides :older cfl bulbs give a distinct flicker ,( much reduced in newer models)and bulbs take seconds to warm you to full flight .Most CFL’s can’t be used with dimmers ,and until new warmer colour temperatures recently became available ,CFLs gave a cold ,white light. Limited recycling for mercury –laden CFLs can be off putting ,as are new concerns raised by British Health Protection agency(HPA )about emissions of UV radiation above the recognised safety limits from some CFLs .LED bulbs deliver less brightness at 10 times the cost of CFL bulbs ,so most consumers are waiting for the product to mature, says Adelaide lighting store owner Rob Rabone of Delights.
The Verdict
If the environment, not savings, is you priority the choice is fairly clear: Led lighting does not have the disposal issues of CFLs and will last longer, making it a greener option.
But LED bulbs are a far more expensive – and a generally less bright option; so although LED technology is progressing rapidly and costs are coming down, for now CFLs are the most practical incandescent bulb replacement for those on an average budget.
Green
When an incandescent light in your home blows, replace it with a lower energy one.
Greener
Commit the extra money to converting all the bulbs in your home to LED lighting over a set period of time.
Greenest
Completely convert to solar powered electricity so your lights are only run by fully sustainable energy.
Courtesy of G Magazine - Green living made easy - www.gmagazine.com.au
