Is it ecologically sound to throw out a functioning light bulb to replace it with a compact fluorescent?

Question

Is it ecologically sound to throw out a functioning light bulb to replace it with a compact fluorescent?

Answer 1

It is not economically sound to throw out a perfectly good light bulb.  Donate them or use them.

Answer 2

Will be a waste if you go for flurescent that is not the most efficient, as stated by Pass me... LED is REALY what is worth it. you will be surprice how a 48 LED bulb that takes less than 2 watts is enought for a small/medium room, you just have to choose it in a good color preferebly warm white .

Remmeber what gives you light is the amount of LUMENS of luminosity not the watts.

Compact fluorescent light bulbs, right now, are more " eco-wise" then anything else most consumers can get a hold of (ie. incandescent) and currently save over 2000 times their own weight in greenhouse gases.

But since my house is completely on solar / wind and we REALLY need to watch usage, every light is fitted with s***w type (typical 110v lamp socket style) LED bulbs. They emit the same luminosity (typically 45) but at only 1watt rather then a 45w compact or 10w CFL. However they usually cost twice as much as CFLs which is twice as much (or more) as compacts. Still LEDs would be the way to go by far.

Mercury IS the lesser of the evils, without getting toooo elaborate discussing specifics (ie. which burns ozone faster, other layer's besides ozone, disposing locations, methods, wind conditions, etc), one needs less mercury gas then most others, to obtain the same luminosity in a vacuum because of mercury's longer agitated spectral wavelength. Mercury's wavelength is more blue which is a longer more "luminous" or brighter light to say sodium, which is a more light orange or shorter less bright (red being the shortest) wavelength. so you'd need more sodium or other, in the tube or more electricity to the tube, to create the same luminosity as mercury.

Answer 3

No, the 1st rule is to reduce. If you want to replace all of your bulbs try to find someone who would want the old bulbs. I am only replacing bulbs that burn out.

Answer 4

There are some areas where CFL just aren't any good.   Like the fridge, or back rooms you might only go into once a day for a few minutes.   Use your old bulbs in those places instead of throwing them out while still good.

Answer 5

Yes, light bulbs are glass... a natural silica and the base metal. and ceramic.  

Answer 6

I CHANGED ALL OF MY LIGHTBULBS OVER TO COMPACT CFL'S AND WAS GOING TO TAKE THEM TO MY RECYCLING CENTER (THEY TAKE ALKALINE BATTERIES, COMPUTERS, TV'S ETC ETC.)

AND

I DECIDED TO DONATE THEM TO A LOCAL CENTER CALLED PRINCE OF PEACE : THEY HAVE A FOOD KITCHEN FOR THE NEEDY, HAVE A STORE IN WHICH THEY SELL TONS OF DONATED ITEMS, IF SOMEONE IS IN NEED OF VARIOUS ITEMS OR IF SOMEONE HAS A FIRE, THEY USE THE MONEY COLLECTED FROM THE STORE TO DONATE NEW NEEDED STAPLES LIKE TOOTHBRUSHES, ETC)...

            THEY WERE HAPPY TO ACCEPT THEM AS SOME PEOPLE CAN NOT AFFORD TO BUY THEM (AND SAVES THE EARTH!)

Answer 7

Waste not, want not.

Answer 8

We have all CFL and LED but if someone is still heating with electricity they may as well use up those old  bulbs during the winter.

CFL and LED do cut energy consumption to an extent that they would justify manufacturing them. LED while they cut down on energy the most may not satisfy all lighting needs.

Answer 9

Fluorescent uses 1/3 to 1/5 the power of incandescent lights. LEDs, although a bit more efficient, are expensive and for the most part impractical. You should change your bulbs to florescent.  

Answer 10

I waited until my reg. one burnt out; them replaced it.