Shedding Light on CFL Usage

It was not until two weeks ago that Justine S. Chow ’10, a long-time user of compact fluorescent lamp (CFL) bulbs, learned that there were specific procedures for the proper use and disposal of the much-touted alternative to incandescents.

Chow says she first discovered the consequences of CFL use when she met with her professor for Engineering Sciences 164: “Aqueous and Environmental Chemistry.” Chow and Steven C. Wofsy, professor of atmospheric and environmental studies, initially discussed her group project on the toxicity of mercury, before the topic turned to the harm CFL bulbs can cause if used or disposed improperly.

Since the beginning of the school year, the Resource Efficiency Program, a peer-based sustainability organization for the 12 undergraduate houses and the freshman Yard, has promoted and distributed the bulbs to students across campus.

Though CFL bulbs expend only one-fourth the energy of their incandescent counterparts, they also contain trace amounts of toxic mercury. According to Wofsy, the 5 milligrams of mercury per bulb “doesn’t sound like much, but it adds up.”

Wofsy explains that when CFL bulbs are simply thrown away, mercury can enter the waste stream, posing a hazard to trash workers and potentially leeching into water basins and the atmosphere. In addition, most CFL bulbs are incompatible with dimmer switches, and must be cleaned up a particular way if they break.

“CFLs are an excellent solution, but with any solution, they come with some downsides that you need to think about,” he says.

While Chow has been using CFL bulbs for years, she says she was surprised about the potential problems they can pose. “I was only aware of how green they were and amazed at their efficiency,” she says.

Chow’s surprised reaction may expose a larger problem in Harvard’s Green Campus Initiative: although many environmentally-friendly solutions are promoted, students sometimes lack guidelines to implement them correctly.

MORE PUBLICITY NEEDED

Kaoru Takasaki ’10 is working on a project that focuses on the atmospheric effects of the mercury in CFL bulbs in the same course by Wofsy. Like Chow, Takasaki said she was unaware that specific procedures were required for the disposal of CFL bulbs.

She recounts the method in which students from REP handed out CFL bulbs in Leverett House dining hall a few weeks ago. “They were simply asking if we wanted light bulbs, and not really explaining the risks,” says Takasaki, a former Crimson magazine writer. “There definitely needs to be more communication.”

Chow and Takasaki say they are concerned that other Harvard students may also be unaware of the disposal procedures for CFL bulbs. “I’d like to see more publicity, maybe some kind of sign somewhere that indicates proper disposal,” Chow says. “A lot of times, people distribute CFL bulbs without any warning about disposal and usage.”

This lapse in communication was evident when Takasaki revealed that she did not even know whether Harvard had any place to recycle CFL bulbs.

“If they do have a location, I don’t know where I would find it,” she says.

Each trash room in the freshman dorms are equipped with battery and CFL disposal bins and upperclassmen can bring old bulbs to their House superintendents.

MAKING BEST EFFORTS

Mary “Molly” V. Bales ’10, the REP representative for Mather House, says that the program already has measures in place to publicize proper disposal of CFLs. All Reps, for instance, are supposed to hang posters in their Houses explaining recycling policies.

These notices include a sign called “CFL Proper Disposal FAQ,” as well as a list of recyclable materials—including CFL bulbs, cell phones, and inkjet cartridges—that can be placed into the “Batteries Plus” boxes present in both House and dormitory recycling centers.

Yet she acknowledges that the various ways in which REP distributes CFL bulbs, including tabling and door drops, make it tricky to remind everyone to dispose of them properly.

She also says that publicity about CFL bulb use and disposal is more deficient for freshmen, both because of the low ratio of reps (3) to freshman dorms (16), and because recycling is less centralized.

“It’s difficult to know exactly how to publicize widely,” Bales says.

She adds that many people are wary of mercury in the bulbs, and says that some parents even refused to take the CFL bulbs during freshman move-in.

“We don’t want people to get a negative view of CFL bulbs,” Bales says.

ADVOCATING SUSTAINABILITY

REP distributed over 1,000 CFL bulbs during freshman move-in and has distributed another 500 bulbs in the Houses thus far, according to Brandon P. Geller ’08, the undergraduate REP coordinator. REP will continue providing CFL bulbs to students, both through House reps and a spring “light bulb swap” of old incandescent light bulbs for CFLs.

Though Harvard supplies the materials necessary to achieve sustainability, some believe that communication about bulb usage still remains an issue. Robert M. Gogan, Jr., the associate manager of Harvard Recycling Services, says he agrees that, despite best efforts to publicize recycling procedures, “we need to improve awareness.”

He adds that Harvard Recycling lacks the authority to post signs and is forced to rely on the REP program to post information regarding recycling and waste reduction.

THE GREENER ALTERNATIVE

REP is already taking tangible steps to address the issue of awareness, including giving posters to freshman proctors to put in their entryways and working closely with other University groups, including Harvard Dining Services, the Faculty of Arts and Sciences Office of Physical Resources, Harvard Recycling, and the Environmental Action Committee.

Geller said in an e-mail that REP is looking into working with Dorm Crew to address CFL disposal during fall and spring clean-up.

Although there are risks associated with CFL bulbs, many maintain that they are still the greener alternative when compared to traditional light bulbs.

Based on her project’s research, Takasaki found that most mercury emissions come from coal-fired electrical power, and because CFL bulbs use less electricity than incandescent light bulbs, they actually reduce the net amount of mercury released into the environment.

Even though the mercury in CFL bulbs may pose problems, it’s acknowledged that it would be far worse if people failed to use CFL bulbs simply to avoid these risks. “Although we want to get word out that there is a specific disposal procedure, it’s of much greater importance that students are using the CFL bulbs instead of incandescent ones,” Gogan says.

EAC member Adam C. Clark ’11 says that because CFL bulbs last almost four years, “it’s not a big issue.”

The quantity of mercury in CFL bulbs is also relatively small. In comparison to their 5 milligrams of mercury, a small household thermometer has 0.5 grams of mercury, or 100 times as much.

Though Wofsy maintains that consumers must consider the consequences of CFLs, he says he is optimistic about addressing their limitations. “CFLs are an excellent solution,” Wofsy says. “My house is full of them.”