Energy Source Builder
Green Seal Sets Standards for Compact Fluorescents
Compact fluorescent lights (CFLs) seem like sure winners in an environmentally conscious marketplace. Compared to the typical incandescent bulb, they use up to 75 percent less energy and last as much as ten times longer. Saving energy has indirect benefits, too. Depending on how the power is generated, using less energy also reduces air pollution, greenhouse gases, nuclear waste or fish deaths.
But you may not know that compact fluorescent lamps often contain small amounts of toxic compounds, such as mercury, cadmium or radioisotopes. Some ballasts can degrade power quality or interfere with other electric appliances. Lighting experts sometimes question manufacturer's claims of lamp life. If compact fluorescents are to achieve their promise as a major energy resource, consumers will need to select products with confidence.
Green Seal makes the consumer's job easier by establishing a rigorous set of environmental standards and then testing products to see if they measure up. So far General Electric has received certification for their 20 watt Electronic Triple Biax, 20 watt Electronic Double Biax and 15 watt Electronic Double Biax. Lights of America (LOA) also received certification for three circular fluorescent products: the 2020TP (20 watt), the 2022TP (22 watt) and the 2030TP (30 watt). GE's Triple Biax and all three LOA products have earned the additional "Class A" endorsement for power quality.
All six certified products have built-in ballasts with screw bases that fit typical light sockets.
Green Seal is an independent non-profit organization dedicated to encouraging consumers to choose "environmentally preferable" products. The Green Seal standard for compact fluorescents has been adopted by 19 utilities in The Northwest Residential Efficient Appliance and Lighting Group (NWREAL), Pacific Gas & Electric Co. and the Sacramento Municipal Utility District.
Green Seal Standards
Product Life
8,000 hours at 3 hours per start
System Efficacy
A measure of efficiency calculated by dividing light output (lumens) by the total electricity input (watts):
Built in Ballasts: |
|
| less than 10 watts | 40 lumens/watt |
| 10 to 15 watts | 45 lumens/watt |
| more than 15 watts | 55 lumens/watt |
Lamps Alone: |
|
| less than 7 watts | 40 lumens/watt |
| 7 to 9 watts | 50 lumens/watt |
| 9 to 13 watts | 55 lumens/watt |
| 13 to 18 watts | 60 lumens/watt |
| more than 18 watts | 62 lumens/watt |
Toxins in Packaging
Added together the total concentration of lead, cadmium, mercury and hexavalent chromium must not exceed 250 parts per million. On January 1, 1994, the maximum level drops to 100 ppm.
This article appeared in Energy Source Builder #30 December 1993 |
