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Enlighten Your Home

Changing your light bulbs to compact fluorescent bulbs is among the easiest things you can do to save energy at home. CFLs use far less energy than traditional incandescent bulbs which means less pollution from power plants as well as a lower electricity bill. But unlike incandescents, CFLs shouldn't just be thrown in the trash when they burn out. CFLs contain a small amount of mercury inside their glass tubing and should be disposed of properly.

Mercury in CFLs is miniscule compared to mercury emissions from coal-fired electrical power plants.

The U.S. releases 104 metric tons of mercury emissions each year and the main source is coal-fired plants. Since CFLs use up to 75 percent less energy than incandescent bulbs, using CFLs will reduce the amount of mercury released into the air, and in turn will cut back on mercury in the water that contaminates fish. (Eating contaminated fish is the prime way humans get exposed to mercury.)

An average CFL contains 4 milligrams of mercury. That tiny quantity of mercury -- essential for the energy efficiency of CFLs -- is about the size of the tip of a ballpoint pen and is far less than the mercury inside other common household objects. For example, watch batteries have 5 times the mercury and older thermometers have 500 milligrams, equal to 125 CFLs.

With CFLs, as with the other household objects listed above, the mercury contained inside is harmless unless the object breaks. Handling bulbs carefully and disposing of them properly will help you and your family to avoid any exposure. Always screw in the light bulb gently by its base, not the glass.

CFLs stay bright for 10,000 hours or more, so you'll replace them every few years rather than every few months. When a compact fluorescent finally burns out, don't just toss it in the trash. Check to see if your municipality has a household hazardous waste program. Many do. Another option is to find a retailer near you, such as Ikea or Home Depot, that has a collection program for recycling CFLs. As CFLs gain in popularity you can expect to more retailers offer collection programs.

If you do accidentally drop a CFL and it breaks, there's no need for alarm. Just follow these instructions:

Before cleaning up the broken bulb, open a window and turn off any forced-air heating or air conditioning.
Scoop up the glass fragments and powder using stiff paper or cardboard and place them in a glass jar with a metal lid or in a sealed plastic bag. Use sticky tape to pick up remaining glass fragments or powder. Wipe area clean with damp paper towel or wet wipes.
Dispose of the broken bulb through your local household hazardous waste program or recycling program. If that service is unavailable in your area, place all cleanup materials in a trash container outside the building.
Wash your hands after cleaning up.
If vacuuming is needed after all visible materials are removed, vacuum the area and dispose of the vacuum bag in a sealed plastic bag. For the next few times you vacuum, turn off any forced-air heating or air conditioning and open a window before doing so.

Cleaning up a broken CFL may sound like a hassle but since the CFLs last so much longer than incandescent bulbs, you won't be changing your lightbulbs for years. And the benefits of switching are immense -- if everyone household were to replace one regular light bulb with a CFL, it would save enough energy to light more than 3 million homes for an entire year, and it would save more than $600 million in annual energy costs. How's that for a brighter, more efficient future?

With significant energy savings and a chance to cut back on the overall mercury emissions released by coal-fired plants, CFLs are the clear way to enlighten your home. To learn more, download NRDC's fact sheet on CFLs.


Find a convenient way to dispose of burned out CFLs. Don't throw them in the trash! Many major retailers, including Ikea and Home Depot, accept CFLs for recycling. Or look into CFL recycling options in your city or town by visiting www.epa.gov/bulbrecycling or www.earth911.org.	Replace all of the incandescent light bulbs in your home with compact fluorescents.	Experiment with different brands and types of CFLs to find the most flattering light for each room.