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Replace Your Lightbulbs
CFLs shed old light on greenhouse-gas problem
Switching to more efficient compact fluorescent light bulbs would cut lighting energy demand by nearly 40 per cent and eliminate 900 million tonnes of greenhouse gases a year globally by 2030, according to a U.S. study.
Switching to more efficient compact fluorescent light bulbs would cut lighting energy demand by nearly 40 per cent and eliminate 900 million tonnes of greenhouse gases a year globally by 2030, according to a U.S. study.
The report, released Wednesday by the Washington-based Worldwatch Institute, says substituting compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) would produce cumulative carbon dioxide savings of 16.6 billion tonnes over the next two decades - more than twice the amount released in the United States in 2006.
According to Worldwatch, lighting consumes 19 per cent of total electricity grid production and generates more than 1,500 million tonnes of carbon dioxide per year. That's the equivalent of the emissions from more than half of the world's light passenger vehicles.
In the United States alone, the report says, replacing incandescent light bulbs with CFLs would have the same impact on emissions as taking 30 million cars off the road.
The report's co-author, Alice McKeown, said she is surprised it has taken people so long to realize that using CFLs is "such a win-win situation."
She added: "We've known for a long time that one of the quickest, easiest things we can do to address climate change right now is look at efficiency. And compact fluorescent light bulbs are kind of the poster child for efficiency."
CFLs use about 75 per cent less energy to produce the same amount of light as traditional incandescent light bulbs. Though they're more expensive, they last up to 10 times longer than conventional bulbs and can reduce energy bills substantially.
Last year, Canada became the second country, after Australia, to ban the sale of most incandescent bulbs, starting in 2012. Last week, the European Union confirmed plans to phase out incandescents for its 500 million citizens by 2010. Worldwide, more than 40 countries have announced similar measures.
McKeown called the report's findings a call to action. "These policies are shown to work," she said. "These are tangible benefits and they save consumers money all at the same time."
CREDIT: Pat McGrath/Ottawa Citizen
© Ottawa Citizen 2008
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