With the ban on incandescent lightbulbs already in effect in the US, the Biden administration has proposed regulations to phase out compact fluorescent lightbulbs, or CFLs, as part of its climate change strategy. CFLs, while more durable than incandescents, consume more electricity compared to light-emitting diode bulbs, or LEDs.
CFLs provide illumination by passing an electric current through a tube filled with argon and a small amount of mercury. The current produces invisible ultraviolet light, which stimulates a fluorescent coating in the tube, generating visible light. Although more expensive, CFLs use 75% less energy and last 10 to 15 times longer than traditional bulbs. Swapping just one incandescent bulb for a CFL in every US household could potentially provide energy savings that light up to 3 million homes, according to the US Environmental Protection Agency.
However, CFLs have downsides. They are less efficient than LEDs, which use microchips to pass current and illuminate a diode, producing visible light. CFLs generate between 50 and 70 lumens per watt, while LEDs typically produce 75 to 110 lumens per watt. Additionally, high-quality LEDs, particularly Energy Star-certified bulbs, outlast CFLs by three to five times.
CFL bulbs contain approximately 4 milligrams of mercury, considerably less than the 500 milligrams in old-school thermometers. If a CFL bulb breaks, the room should be aerated, and the pieces carefully collected. Many states require broken or burned-out CFLs to be taken to collection sites or recycling centers, as they cannot be disposed of in regular trash. CFLs are also not compatible with dimming, recessed lighting, or extreme temperatures.
Although CFLs are not currently banned, the proposed guidelines by the US Department of Energy to increase lightbulb efficiency standards could effectively end their sale. These guidelines would more than double the minimum efficiency requirements from 45 lumens per watt to over 120 lumens per watt. This change, expected to take effect by the end of 2024, would accelerate the adoption of LED lighting, benefiting both consumers and the environment.
Some states have already implemented or are considering CFL bans. Vermont banned the sale of CFLs in February 2023, and the restriction on the sale of linear fluorescent lamps (LFLs) containing mercury will begin in 2025. California plans to implement a ban on CFLs and LFLs in 2024. Other states such as Colorado, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Rhode Island, and Washington are also considering CFL bans.
As the US moves towards a more sustainable and energy-efficient future, the phase-out of CFLs is part of the larger effort to reduce energy consumption and mitigate climate change.