The Light Bulb, the Cocktail Party, and You Noah Horowitz via Nathanael Greene June 11, 2008

Why we want more efficient bulbs CFL - 60 W equiv uses just 10-15 W Lasts 10x longer Saves $30 over lifetime If every home replaced just 1: $600million in annual savings But CFL costs $2-$5 vs. $0.25 We have to move beyond convincing consumers This is why NRDC fought for a standard

CFL - 60 W equiv uses just 10-15 W

Lasts 10x longer

Saves $30 over lifetime

If every home replaced just 1: $600million in annual savings

But CFL costs $2-$5 vs. $0.25

We have to move beyond convincing consumers

This is why NRDC fought for a standard

The new light bulb efficiency standards 2012 2013 2014 2014

The new light bulb efficiency standards 2012 2013 2014 2014

The new light bulb efficiency standards 2012 2013 2014 2014

NRDC leading on international standard, too Noah recently in Shanghai at “Phaseout 2008” 10 billion sockets Savings: 500 million tons of CO2 per year Noah Horowitz 500 million tons ≈ 10% of current annual US emissions

Noah recently in Shanghai at “Phaseout 2008”

10 billion sockets

Savings: 500 million tons of CO2 per year

You look beautiful by the light of the CFL (Really!) Color quality – lots of anecdotal evidence, but nothing scientific Look for the type of light you want: warm (2700k) vs cool (5600k) CFLs are flying off the shelves! Last year 400 million vs <50 million just a few years ago Remaining problems: Slow run up time (time to full brightness) Dimming products don’t work well, but next generation coming to market this year

Color quality – lots of anecdotal evidence, but nothing scientific

Look for the type of light you want: warm (2700k) vs cool (5600k)

CFLs are flying off the shelves!

Last year 400 million vs <50 million just a few years ago

Remaining problems:

Slow run up time (time to full brightness)

Dimming products don’t work well, but next generation coming to market this year

CFLs do contain mercury Average about 4 milligrams (cover the tip of a ballpoint pen) CFL technology improvement – 1.4 mg Older thermometers contained about 500 mg Most CFL mercury binds to the glass – only ~10% gets released if landfilled and broken If all 290 million CFL sold in 2007 in the US where landfilled rather than recycled would equal just 0.1% of 104 metric tons emitted each year mostly from coal plants

Average about 4 milligrams (cover the tip of a ballpoint pen)

CFL technology improvement – 1.4 mg

Older thermometers contained about 500 mg

Most CFL mercury binds to the glass – only ~10% gets released if landfilled and broken

If all 290 million CFL sold in 2007 in the US where landfilled rather than recycled would equal just 0.1% of 104 metric tons emitted each year mostly from coal plants

CLF’s reduce mercury pollution DRAMATICALLY (~5x) Source: EPA

Still need to recycle and clean up properly Recycling programs are spreading In store are best but most expensive Cleaning up right is easy Open a window Scoop up the pieces (or use sticky tape) Double bag clean up material and wash hads Keep window open during and after vacuuming if necessary See NRDC, EPA, or lots of other good guides for more info

Recycling programs are spreading

In store are best but most expensive

Cleaning up right is easy

Open a window

Scoop up the pieces (or use sticky tape)

Double bag clean up material and wash hads

Keep window open during and after vacuuming if necessary

See NRDC, EPA, or lots of other good guides for more info