Reduce your Carbon Footprint - Energy Efficient Lighting

Simple changes in our everyday lives can help slow climate change — including reducing our energy consumption.

Compact fluorescent bulbs (CFLs) are the most prevalent energy efficient bulb curently available. Consuming an average of 75 per cent less electricity than conventional incandescent lights, CFLs reduce overall demand for electricity and the resulting greenhouse gas emissions from fossil-fuel power plants. Improving light emitting diode (LED) technology promises even greater electricity savings while avoiding some of the issues (mercury content, disposal) of CFLs.

Switching to energy efficient lighting represents a great opportunity to reduce your carbon footprint and save money on your electricity bill. While there are obvious environmental benefits to switching to more efficient lighting, consumers need to be aware of safe handling and disposal practices.

Mercury

In order to achieve this energy savings, CFLs require a small amount of mercury in their design; far less than the amount contained in other common uses such as watch batteries or dental fillings. 

Cleanup and Disposal

If a CFL does break or eventually burns out it is important to follow safe clean-up and disposal procedures. To maximize their environmental benefit it is important that CFLs are recycled and do not end up in the landfill.