CFL's really any better?

[Metal]

At last count I have over 40 CFL's in/around my house and haven't had any "burn out" yet. I saved the old bulbs so I can take my CFL's with me if I ever move. I like them in the bathroom especially since when I flick them on in the middle of the night of morning they take ~30 seconds to reach full brightness, so it gives my eyes a better chance to adjust. All the shades in my house are frosted glass so I use the majority of the twisted type, but also have the covered ones (look like incandescents) in the bathrooms or wherever they are seen. I bet no one that has visited even know they are CFL's. Unfortunately the people who can least afford to burn incandescents are the same people who won't/can't spend the extra money for their initial purchase, even if they know the amount of money they could be saving.

 

[Sandor]

Saw this post on theoildrum.com and thought I would cut and paste it here.

Puts some real numbers to the issue.

"Coal power plants in the US release about 40 metric tons of mercury every year. That is 4 x 10^10 milligrams of mercury, equivalent to breaking 8 x 10^9 CF bulbs every year. That's 8 billion bulbs. If using CF instead of incandescent bulbs saves 1% of our annual electrical use, then we will have displaced the release of 4 x 10^8 milligrams of mercury. If we can manage not to break more than 80 million CF bulbs a year, we come out ahead with regards to mercury release. I think this criticism of Pelosi is unenlightened."

 

[Jags]

Saw this post on theoildrum.com and thought I would cut and paste it here.

Puts some real numbers to the issue.

"Coal power plants in the US release about 40 metric tons of mercury every year. That is 4 x 10^10 milligrams of mercury, equivalent to breaking 8 x 10^9 CF bulbs every year. That's 8 billion bulbs. If using CF instead of incandescent bulbs saves 1% of our annual electrical use, then we will have displaced the release of 4 x 10^8 milligrams of mercury. If we can manage not to break more than 80 million CF bulbs a year, we come out ahead with regards to mercury release. I think this criticism of Pelosi is unenlightened."

Good numbers Sandor. That is the "proof in the pudding" I was looking for. Now I can consciously beat the CFL drum.

 

[begreen]

Our first CFL from Home Depot's 4 pack just died. I put it in on 2/19/06. The halogen it replaced was over 3 yrs. old, no mercury, no electronics. As noted, CFL's might be ok if they are of the original Osram quality, but I am concerned that the current crop is Chinese crap, in which case, the net environmental effect could be negative.