Are halogen bulbs eco friendly?
On One Hand: Fluorescent Lighting Is More EcofriendlyIn terms of energy consumption, halogen bulbs are not very ecofriendly. Compared to a regular incandescent bulb, a halogen bulb use 20 to 30 percent less energy, whereas a compact fluorescent light (CFL) uses 66 to 80 percent less energy.On the Other: Halogen Lights Do Not Contain MercuryOne reason halogen bulbs might be considered more ecofriendly than CFLs is that they don’t contain mercury. CFLs contain slight traces of mercury and need to be disposed of carefully to prevent environmental problems at landfill sites. But this hazard is minimal — according to the EPA, a CFL has only 1 percent of the mercury used in an amalgam dental filling.Bottom LineHalogen bulbs are slightly more efficient than regular incandescent bulbs, but they are not nearly as efficient as CFLs. Unlike CFLs, however, halogen bulbs don’t contain mercury.
