Stewardship Tip Oct10th, 2008- Compact Florescent Lamps
Compact, florescent lamps, or CFLs, are a simple, effective change that everyone can easily make. There are a variety of CFLs that will work in various types of fixtures. CFLs use up to 75% less electricity than incandescent bulbs and last 10 times longer.
According to ENERGY STAR, if every home in America replaced just one incandescent light bulb with an ENERGY STAR qualified CFL, in one year it would save enough energy to light more than 3 million homes. That would prevent the release of greenhouse gas emissions equal to that of about 800,000 cars.
CFLs do contain small amounts of mercury. Most CFLs contain about 4 milligrams, an amount that would cover the tip of a ballpoint pen. If the bulb remains intact, no mercury is released. The average mercury content in CFLs, however, has dropped at least 20 percent in the last year. Some manufacturers have reduced the mercury content to 1.4 milligrams per bulb. It is important to handle CFLs carefully to avoid breakage. It is also important to recycle CFLs when they burn out. The number of organizations that will accept CFLs for recycling is growing. Visit www.earth911.org to find a CFL recycling location in your area.
Why it is important to the fish: According to the EPA, electricity generation is responsible for 41% of U.S. human-made carbon dioxide emissions. Coal fired power plants provide more than 50% of the electricity in the United States and are one of the prime culprits. Coal fired plants emit sulfur and nitrogen oxides which react with the water in the air to produce sulfuric and nitric acids. Theses acids, known as acid rain, wash into and fall directly on aquatic habitats; they are highly toxic to many species of aquatic organisms including our fish. While acid rain is usually associated with freshwater lakes and streams, airborne acids and greenhouse gasses have also been implicated in the acidification of the oceans. Between 1751 and 1994, the surface ocean pH is estimated to have decreased from approximately 8.179 to 8.104. Some estimates indicate that by 2050, the pH of the oceans will drop to 7.949. As many species of fish are sensitive to low pH, the results could be disastrous.
By using CFLs in our homes, we reduce our consumption of electricity and, the emissions from our power plants. Our fish are the ultimate beneficiaries.
For more information on CFLs, visit the Energy Star website.
This week’s sponsor-partner: Grabber warmers
Get warmer outdoors with Grabber products and accessories! Warmers.com is proud to offer a limited time, 15%, online discount on regularly-priced items. Simply enter code FISH2009 during checkout. (Expires 9/30/2009).Their partnership
makes this week’s “Stewardship Tip” possible.
Rising demand for our weekly Stewardship Tip and a new partnership with Fly Cast America now makes the Stewardship Tip available in Spanish. Ahora, reciba el Stewardship Tip en español. Gentileza de Fly Cast America.
To read the weekly Stewardship Tip in Spanish, click here Simplemente haga click aquí si desea recibir el Stewardship tip en Español.
Would you like to get the Stewardship Tip e-mailed to you weekly? Please visit our Stewardship Tips Sign Up page or use the form located at the top right portion of this page.
