Reply #28: CFLs Responsible for Less Mercury than Incandescent Light Bulbs [View All]

[GeorgeGist]

Ironically, CFLs present an opportunity to prevent mercury
from entering our air, where it most affects our health. The
highest source of mercury in our air comes from burning
fossil fuels such as coal, the most common fuel used in the
U.S. to produce electricity. A CFL uses 75% less energy
than an incandescent light bulb and lasts at least 6 times
longer. A power plant will emit 10mg of mercury to produce
the electricity to run an incandescent bulb compared to only
2.4mg of mercury to run a CFL for the same time.

http://web.archive.org/web/20051103092737/http://www.nema.org/lamprecycle/epafactsheet-cfl.pdf