Pros and Contras of Modern Lightbulbs

Pros and Contras of Modern Lightbulbs

Mason Dolinsky

Tamaqua Area High School

Abstract

If every household in the United States of America switched from a compact fluorescent (CFL) or incandescent lightbulb to a light emitting diode (LED) lightbulb, then there would be a positive environmental impact as well as cost savings for the household. The first portion of this paper discussed the cost and energy efficiency of each bulb. Next, this paper explained the significance of the materials used to make and dispose of each lightbulb. The last portion of this research paper focused on each lightbulb’s impact on households and the environment. After the research, it was discovered that LEDs are the most environmentally friendly of the three.

Compact fluorescent, light emitting diode, and incandescent lightbulbs are three main types of lightbulbs used in the modern era. Each have characteristics that make them better or more preferred than another. Recently, LED (Light Emitting Diodes) and CFL (Compact Fluorescent Lamp/Lightbulb) bulbs have become popular due to their longer life spans and lower power consumptions. LEDs, especially, have growing popularity. On the other hand, are they really the best type of lightbulb to have? Through research of cost and energy efficiency, materials and disposal, and environmental impact of each lightbulb, this paper will attempt to answer that question.

          First, CFL, LED, and incandescent lightbulbs differ greatly in their cost and energy efficiency. For example, when it comes to life span, incandescent lightbulbs are significantly lower in total number of functional hours. Incandescent bulbs on average have a life span of about 1,200 hours, while a compact fluorescent has a life span of about 8,000 hours. Meanwhile, light emitting diode bulbs come in at a staggering 50,000 hours of life. Also, the amount of watts used for 60 watt equivalent lightbulbs is tremendously different as well. An incandescent uses 60 watts of power. On the other hand, 60 watt equivalent CFL bulbs only use 13-15 watts, and LED bulbs only use 6-8 watts of power. This is only electrical use. When it comes to cost efficiency, LED bulbs were the least expensive when considering both the initial cost, which is higher than the other two types, the electricity used, and the lifespan. For incandescent when 30 bulbs are being used, it would cost about $328.59 annually, while CFL lightbulbs only cost around $76.65 annually. As said before, LED bulbs cost the least to use, coming in at $32.85 per year. So, by switching from incandescent lightbulbs to LED lightbulbs, the homeowner could save over 50 watts and a little less than $300. Also, by switching from CFL to LED lightbulbs, the homeowner could save 5-9 watts and save over $40. This amount would add up tremendously over time. (“Compare: LED”, n.d.)

        Secondly, LED, CFL, and incandescent bulbs can impact humans and the environment through the materials used to make them and how they are disposed. To start, all of the lightbulbs vary in the materials used to make them. Incandescent lightbulbs contain a glass envelope as well as a metal filament (R. Dolinsky, personal communication, April 9, 2016). With this metal filament, the bulb would heat very fast and radiate light as well as heat. Compact fluorescent lightbulbs contain a surrounding glass tube which holds mercury. In the base, there is a driver (electronic part) which causes the bulb to light (R. Dolinsky, personal communications, April 9, 2016). In LED lightbulbs there is a glass envelope with electronics in the base. Within the electronics, there is the light emitting diode. The light emitting diode usually shines in a straight line, so a diffuser is needed to spread out the light (R. Dolinsky, personal communications, April 9, 2016). Since incandescent bulbs are very fragile, they should be thrown away carefully. Frye Electric Incorporated (2013) recommends putting incandescent bulbs in a package to be thrown away or, if possible, recycled. Next, Frye Electric Incorporated (2013) said to recycle as many compact fluorescent lightbulbs as possible. Since CFLs contain mercury, they are dangerous to throw away. If disposed of improperly, the mercury could spread and contaminate soil and even groundwater in a serious case. This would happen by large amounts of mercury seeping down into the soil, reaching the groundwater, and tainting it. LED lightbulbs do not contain any dangerous chemicals, so they can be thrown away or recycled (Frye Electric Incorporated, 2013).

        Finally, the different lightbulbs can greatly affect humans and the surrounding environment. First, incandescent bulbs created, and continue to create, a great amount of carbon dioxide emissions. 30 incandescent lightbulbs can release 4500 pounds of emissions per year (“Compare: LED”, n.d.). These emissions would pollute an area and create negative changes there because carbon dioxide is a primary greenhouse gas. Compact fluorescent lightbulbs create 1051 pounds of carbon emissions per year (Compare: LED”, n.d.). Although this is not close to the amount of emissions left by incandescent bulbs, the carbon dioxide emissions caused by the use of CFLs can still have a large, negative effect. In addition to CFL and incandescent lightbulbs, LED bulbs cause the release of carbon dioxide/greenhouse gases. Emissions caused by LED lights are not nearly as high as that of CFL or incandescent lightbulbs, but they still discharge 451 pounds per year (“Compare: LED”, n.d.). This is a dramatic change compared to incandescent lightbulbs and a large change in comparison to CFL bulbs. By switching from an incandescent to a CFL or LED, it can be 3 to 10 times better for the environment (Learn, 2012). Even though incandescent lightbulbs have terrible carbon emissions, they do not contain lead or mercury. LED and incandescent bulbs are RoHS compliant, which is a standard for the restriction of the use of hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment (“Restriction of Hazardous Substances Directive”, 2016). CFL lightbulbs, which are not RoHS compliant, do contain mercury (“Compare: LED”, n.d.). If a CFL lightbulb was to break open in a household, poisoning, such as lead or mercury, could happen if a member of the household came into contact with the broken bulb. So, compact fluorescent lightbulbs are very dangerous in several aspects.