Better for the environment
From reducing climate-changing CO2 emissions to reducing mercury exposure, energy saver bulbs are good for the planet.
Reduces CO2
An energy efficient bulb needs less electricity, it’s as simple as that. And, given that 20% of New Zealand’s electricity still comes from burning fossil fuels like coal, gas and oil, generating less electricity means reducing emissions of CO2.
In fact, simply replacing one standard incandescent bulb with one equivalent CFL can, over the life of the bulb, keep half a tonne of CO2 out of the atmosphere.
Reduces mercury
Mercury is toxic to humans and the environment – and one type of energy efficient bulb (CFLs) contains it.
The amounts in individual bulbs isn’t enough to be a hazard to users. And overall, switching to energy efficient bulbs will reduce the amount of mercury we’re all exposed to.
That’s because generating electricity using geothermal energy or fossil fuels - both quite important to New Zealand – releases mercury. Energy efficient bulbs reduce energy consumption, which in turn reduces this source of mercury in the environment.