Why Should you use compact fluorescent light bulbs?

Switching from traditional incandescent light bulbs to compact fluorescent light bulbs is an effective, simple change everyone in America can make right now. Making this change will help to use less electricity at your home or office and prevent greenhouse gas emissions that lead to global climate change.

Your lighting accounts for an average of 20 percent of your electric bill. Compact fluorescent lights provide the same amount of light as their incandescent counterparts, but use two-thirds less energy and last up to 10 times longer. Replacing the lights you use most often will get you maximum savings benefit, and replacing just a single bulb will keep half a ton of CO2 out of the atmosphere.

Do compact fluorescent light bulbs contain mercury?

Yes, a very small amount of mercury is sealed within the glass tubing. No mercury is released when the bulbs are intact (not broken) or in use.

While these compact fluorescent light bulbs help consumers and businesses cut their lighting energy usage and reduce energy costs, it is important that any product containing mercury be properly disposed of when it becomes waste to protect public health and the environment. Check with your local city on where to recycle compact fluorescent light bulbs, 99.8 percent of the mercury is recycled.