Europe embraces fluorescent bulbs, soon to ban incandescent

Compact fluorescent bulbs provide a definite efficiency advantage over traditional incandescent by using up to 80 percent less energy. The European Union has decided to capitalize on that gain by pulling incandescent bulbs out of retailer shops. Not everyone is happy with the change though, citing the higher initial cost of fluorescent bulbs, lower quality light, and fears about what mercury inside the bulbs will do to the environment.

As an example on costs, one fluorescent bulb can cost $14 or more compared to around $.70 for an incandescent bulb. But, an average home would save just over $70 per year which would close that gap in a fairly short time. Across Europe that would save consumers billions of Euros annually, which could translate into more economic activity if those Euros are spent versus hiding in savings accounts.

That sounds like a net win on costs, but quality of light is hard to ignore. Most everyone has experienced fluorescent bulbs in varying degrees, and the light they provide is usually harsh white. It tends to highlight blemishes in our skin and encourages a pale appearance. Incandescent bulbs usually emit a warm, softer light which can be kinder to the eye. Perhaps that’s something that can resurge when LED technology enters the mainstream.

Cutting out incandescent bulbs is part of the European Union’s goal to cut “greenhouse gas emissions by 20 percent by 2020,” according to The New York Times. But do those greenhouse gas emissions cuts come at the cost of introducing more mercury into the environment? The European Union acknowledges that risk and:

. . . officials said that they would find ways to push the industry to reduce the amount of mercury to levels around 2 milligrams per bulb from the current level of 5 milligrams per bulb.

Saving energy is generally a good thing, but this blanket ban seems to ignore some significant questions on what the overall impact on the environment will be.