To save energy and reduce emissions from lighting systems, traditional incandescent bulbs are being replaced with more energy-efficient light-emitting diodes (LEDs) and compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs). However, these alternatives contain high levels of hazardous materials such as aluminium, copper, gold, lead, silver and zinc, which means they use more resources and are potentially more toxic than incandescent bulbs.
Hazardous materials in LEDs and CFLs
To save energy and reduce emissions from lighting systems, traditional incandescent bulbs are being replaced with more energy-efficient light-emitting diodes (LEDs) and compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs). However, these alternatives contain high levels of hazardous materials such as aluminium, copper, gold, lead, silver and zinc, which means they use more resources and are potentially more toxic than incandescent bulbs.
Nº 38
- Climate & Atmosphere
- Buildings Emission Reduction
- Improving Energy Efficiency
some attempts made
past case
Region-1
Region-2
Region-3
Region-4
ongoing case
no attempts made
Hazardous materials in LEDs and CFLs
LEDs and compact fluorescent lamps were increasingly introduced in response to the US Energy Independence and Security Act and the EU Ecodesign Directive to save energy and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
- The problem-shift had no effect on the efforts to address the initial problem
- Multilple (effects disconected from each other)
Lim, S. R., Kang, D., Ogunseitan, O. A., & Schoenung, J. M. (2013). Potential environmental impacts from the metals in incandescent, compact fluorescent lamp (CFL), and light-emitting diode (LED) bulbs. Environmental science & technology, 47(2), 1040-1047. https://doi.org/10.1021/es302886m
Lim, S. R., Kang, D., Ogunseitan, O. A., & Schoenung, J. M. (2013). Potential environmental impacts from the metals in incandescent, compact fluorescent lamp (CFL), and light-emitting diode (LED) bulbs. Environmental science & technology, 47(2), 1040-1047. https://doi.org/10.1021/es302886m
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