Light bulbs
The benefits of low energy light bulbs (or CFLs – Compact Flourescent Lights) are well known. They reduce power consumption by around 85%, compared to conventional light bulbs and last around 10–15 times longer. But despite their benefits, plus considerable improvements in their performance and in the range of bulbs available, still only around 15% of bulbs used in the UK are CFLs. Street lights do not use CFLs because at present they do not meet recommended EU values.
There are times when their use is questionable. They take a couple of minutes to warm up to maximum efficiency, so lights that are only ever flicked on and off quickly (in outside sheds or garages) may use more energy with low energy light bulbs. People with epilepsy may have problems due to the light frequencies emitted. But in nearly all other situations there is no reason not to change them. They should be recycled to allow the tiny quantity of mercury and other minerals to be reclaimed.
LED technology continues to develop and in the future LED bulbs are likely to replace CFL bulbs, once they can produce more diffuse lighting. Choose LED lights as an alternative for Christmas lighting as they use considerably less energy than conventional Christmas lights (if possible reduce the amount of such lighting at celebration times).
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Useful links
Carbon Footprint Information on low energy light bulbs
Marches Energy Agency The UK’s first community to banish incandescent light bulbs
The Watt An excellent analysis of the overall efficiency of a CFL bulb including manufacture and recycling