Long Life lamps

Combining energy-efficient lamps with efficient, electronic ballasts not only reduces the amount of overall energy consumed, but can also reduce the number of lamps needed for a particular application. Reducing the number of lamps in use and extending the amount of time between replacements by using longer-lasting lamps lowers the quantity of lamps in the waste stream, thereby reducing the number that must be disposed.

Lamps with longer life will require fewer replacements, reducing the demand for raw materials and significantly lowering maintenance and recycling costs.

Recycling

Mercury does not get into the air directly from an operating lamp. It may bind with the glass or the phosphors or other coatings, but is not released. Even when lamps are manufactured, mercury is contained by manufacturing processes or captured by filters. This leaves only one opportunity for direct mercury release from lamps into the air—breakage that occurs when lamps are thrown into dumpsters or garbage trucks prior to disposal. Because the amount of mercury content in an individual lamp is so low, breaking a small number of lamps does not present a health threat to workers. The improper disposal of large numbers of lamps, however, adds to the global reservoir of mercury.  Burning hazardous wastes, or incineration of disposed materials can also release mercury into the environment.

Thus the two most effective methods of reducing overall mercury deposition are to: use energy-efficient lamps and systems, (thereby driving down mercury emissions from coal fired power plants); and avoid breaking the lamps prior to disposal by sending them to a recycling facility, where it is estimated that only 0.2% to 0.4% of the mercury is emitted to the atmosphere. The US lighting industry actively supports recycling as the proper method of lamp disposal, and currently about 30% of fluorescent lamps used today in the commercial sector are recycled. The rate is growing, however, and manufacturers continue to work with the US EPA on strategies to encourage greater use of recycling facilities.

Over the life cycle of a fluorescent lamp, the cost to recycle today is less than 1% of the cost of ownership, as the bulk of ownership dollars is spent to cover energy costs. Those who put lamp recycling in their budgets will keep on the sustainability path and still maintain energy efficient lighting.

For more information about Osram Sylvania’s products, visit us on-line at www.sylvania.com