The purpose of this site is to compare the hazardous waste produced by compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) and incandescent light bulbs.

CFLs contain vapor mercury and therefore pose a potential environmental hazard. The mercury contained in a CFL can be compared to the outputs of mercury in incandescents.

Although CFLs contain mercury they can be disposed of properly that mercury can be prevented from being released, some companies are also looking at the feasibility of recycling fluorescent bulbs.

Figure 1. Interactive display at CCAT (currently in the living room) that compares energy consumption in kilowatt hours (kWh) of an incandescent  bulb to a CFL using an analog meter. Photo taken by Jocelyn Orr