History

• Interest in alternative forms of lighting surfaced in response to the energy shortages in the early 1970s. Credit for inventing the compact fluorescent lightbulb in 1976 goes to General Electric (GE) engineer Edward H. Hammer. Although Hammer holds more than 40 patents, GE considered his CFL invention proprietary and did not pursue a patent or production due to the high investment in manufacturing cost involved. Other manufacturers perfected both the design and production technique that made CFL bulbs economically viable.
  
  

Compact Fluorescent Lights

• Also known as energy-savers or "energy smart bulbs," compact fluorescent lights resemble swirled ice cream. The spiral glass tubes, coated inside with phosphor, contain argon and a low-level of mercury--about the size of a pen tip, notes the National Resources Defense Council. Electricity flowing through the tubes activates the mercury's atoms to produce ultraviolet light. This causes the phosphor coating to glow, creating visible light. The spirals reflect that light off of each other, thereby increasing the bulb's luminosity. The swirl design and mercury combination uses 75 percent less energy than an incandescent bulb, according to Energy Star.
  
  

Savings

• The EPA established the Energy Star program in 1992 to notify consumers that a product meets its strict performance and efficiency standards. Converting five of a home's most used lamps and lights to Energy Star-rated CFLs could shave at least $64 from the electric bill each year. The EPA believes the U.S. could save approximately $600 million annually without a decrease in luminosity if every household traded one, standard, 60-watt incandescent light bulb for a CFL that carries the Energy Star label.
  
  

Disposal

• The low-level of mercury in CFLs merits precaution, not concern, should the bulb break. The EPA clean-up guidelines say to begin by ventilating the area for at least 15 minutes and turning off central heating and air conditioning. Using a sealable plastic bag to dispose of bulb shards and any paper towels used to wipe off both hard surfaces and shoes will limit contamination. Any garments or bed linens directly exposed to either pieces of glass or powder residue could pollute sewage and must be discarded in a sealed, plastic bag. While some municipalities permit normal trash disposal of broken CFLs, state regulations may require recycling at designated waste centers.
  
  

Light-Emitting Diodes

• While CFLs gain acceptance in residential neighborhoods, LEDs--light-emitting diodes---grow more popular in the commercial sector. LEDs provide directional lighting. Universities, cities and office buildings that need constant illumination have welcomed them, as have restaurants and hotels. They contain no mercury, can be dimmed and stay cool to the touch. LEDs lie at the heart of solid-state lighting technology, an "emerging" science whose energy-saving potential led the U.S. Department of Energy to fund research conducted by its partner, Sandia National Laboratories. DOE solid-state lighting program manager James Broderick notes that lighting represents nearly 40 percent of an office building's electric bill. In its "2010 Energy Savings Forecast," the DOE estimates that solid-state lighting will reduce energy expenses by some $15 billion in the year 2030.