Search
Research Report

Farewell to Fluorescent Lighting: How a Phaseout Can Cut Mercury Pollution, Protect the Climate, and Save Money

March 1, 2022
facebooktwitterlinkedInemail

Mercury-free LED replacements for linear and compact fluorescent bulbs are widely available and provide the same or better lighting, longer product life, and much lower total cost than fluorescents. This study finds that drop-in LED replacement lamps are available for all common linear fluorescent tubes, pin-based compact fluorescent lamps, and specialty applications. Policies to accelerate the phaseout of fluorescent lighting and a full transition to LED lighting would eliminate a significant source of mercury pollution and its threat to human health and the environment. Government policies to limit mercury have often exempted fluorescent lighting—the most common use of mercury in homes and commercial buildings—because ready-to-go, mercury-free substitutes did not exist. Our findings show that such exemptions for fluorescent lighting are no longer necessary.

Research Report

Research Report

Amann, J.T, B. Fadie, J. Mauer, K. Swaroop, and C. Tolentino. 2022. Farewell to Fluorescent Lighting: How a Phaseout Can Cut Mercury Pollution, Protect the Climate, and Save Money. Washington, DC: American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy. aceee.org/research-report/b2202.

 

This Article Was About

Commercial Buildings Energy Efficiency Strategies and Upgrades Federal Laws and Legislation Appliances

Authors

Jennifer Amann
Jennifer Amann
Senior Fellow, Buildings Program
Brian Fadie
State Policy Associate, Appliance Standards Awareness Project
Joanna Mauer
Deputy Director, Appliance Standards Awareness Project (ASAP)
Kanchan Swaroop
Senior Technical Advocacy Associate, Appliance Standards Awareness Project
Carolin Tolentino
Research Analyst, Buildings Program
© 2024 All rights reserved.