CFL faux pas from an ecological intelligence expert

The Greenwash Brigade

I just enjoyed the first 45 minutes of a Minnesota Public Radio call-in show. Daniel Goleman is touting his book, “Ecological Intelligence: How Knowing the Hidden Impacts of What We Buy Can Change Everything,” and I was fantastically excited that he was talking about transparent, holistic ecological labeling for products. (In essence, he was touting the single-sustainability-label concept I suggested here.) He recommended a great-sounding tool, Good Guide. (I’m testing it now.)

About eight minutes before the end of the hour, it fell apart. A caller commented on all the mercury and transportation miles he was generating disposing of CFL bulbs — and Mr. Goleman congratulated him on his systems thinking, going on to note that we all need to think like that, and that the creators and promoters of CFLs neglected to do so.

I was flabbergasted. He’s promoting one of the most-debunked urban legends of anti-environmentalists — on “my” reliable radio station. Huff.

A quick web search on “mercury cfl” turns up a load of corrections - mostly about two years old. The Energy Star fact sheet (PDF) is clear, the EPA fact sheet (PDF) talks about other mercury sources in homes, too, The NPR story is the most nuanced. Then, there are a number of smart blog posts. Plus, there are new, lower-mercury bulbs now available.

Mr. Goleman, after the clear and nuanced understanding you presented during the show, I’m astounded that you didn’t immediately connect mercury from electricity production to total mercury emissions and correct the misinformation.

July 7, 2009 by Janne K. Flisrand
5 comments

tags: CFLs electricity mercury misinformation

Comments (5)

Bob Collins | Respond
July 8, 2009 6:26 PM PT

If possible, could you transcribe the caller's question and the response? Or at least tell me EXACTLY where in the show this exchange took place. I've listened to the last 15 minutes of the show and I can't find the exchange you write about here.

Janne Flisrand | Respond
July 9, 2009 5:15 AM PT

Excellent question - I wish I'd thought to post it originally.

The clip is at minute 44:22.

Allen R. Gentry | Respond
July 9, 2009 5:58 AM PT

LED bulbs(Light Emitting Diode) made to RoHS standards (Reduction of Hazardous Substances)are the best of both worlds. LED bulbs use less power than CFL's when on, can be turned on-off unlimited times (every time you leave the room) without burning them out, where CFL's must be left on (until you go to bed) to avoid burning them out. And the advertised life is 60,000 hours for LED, 6000 hours for CFL. LED = less power in use, less hazardous substances, less need for replacements.

LED bulbs are so far only sold on the internet, are initially more expensive, (CFL's were more expensive when they first came out)and are larger than CFL's but as they come more to market that will change as it did for CFL's.

One unfortunate note: There are several manufacturers that produced LED bulbs using the lowest quality parts and practices available and the fault is the manufacturers, not the technology. Those poor grade manufacturers are giving LED's a bad reputation. When made by competent manufacturers LED's deliver everything that the technology promises. I have 1 of 4 brands of LED bulb which are working great. Before I tried them I tried CFL's and 5 of 9 CFL's burned out too, so CFL's are no angel of reliability either.

I looked at the Energy Star Fact Sheet regarding coal power being the largest home contributor of mercury, and my rural electric coop now offers a wind power option which I immediately signed up for.

Terri | Respond
July 12, 2009 9:05 AM PT

In Mr. Goleman's defense, he is not an expert on environmental products, chemistry, etc. He is a psychologist and his book is about transparency on the part of businesses and third parties like The Good Guide to help consumers make informed decisions. He has a nuanced understanding of how difficult it is going to be to get the majority of Americans to care about these issues, and how complicated the various issues themselves can be.

Most people calling into the show wanted specifics about things like light bulbs, but Mr. Goleman was there to talk about the education and motivation end of consumerism, not about specific products.

Jim | Respond
July 13, 2009 7:51 AM PT

Shame on you, Daniel, the science is already in on this. The mercury in a CFL is eclipsed by the power plant mercury emissions required to power less-efficient incandescents.

Tools

Meet the Greenwash Brigade

Our hand-picked environmental professionals, each part of the Public Insight Network, are on the hunt for "greenwash" as they examine eco-friendly claims by companies, governments and other groups. They ask tough questions about the mainstreaming of green, from the perspectives of people in the trenches who are focused on these issues 24/7.

Jim Nicolow is a nationally recognized expert on sustainable design and leads the sustainability initiative for Lord, Aeck & Sargent, overseeing the incorporation of sustainable design strategies and features into the firm’s design projects. He is a LEED® Accredited Professional with extensive knowledge of the U.S. Green Building Council’s (USGBC) LEED rating system.

Janne K. Flisrand has worked as an affordable housing and urban planning research consultant for five years, primarily supporting local non-profits. Her focus is on transit, transit-oriented design, affordable housing, and sustainability. Currently, she’s the program coordinator for Minnesota Green Communities, a program promoting affordable, healthy, sustainably built housing throughout Minnesota.

Dennis Markatos-Soriano recently completed a Master's in Public Affairs at Princeton's Woodrow Wilson School. He is now launching Sustainable Energy Transition (SET) to help individuals and institutions move from dependence on oil and gas to an efficient use of renewables. Previously, he co-founded SURGE (Students United for a Responsible Global Environment), which aims to bring young progressives together across issues of environmental and social justice throughout North Carolina and beyond. In the summer of 2006, he helped to start a small green company, Greenway Pedicabs, to provide a greenhouse gas-free transportation option for people in the Triangle of North Carolina.

Heidi Siegelbaum is a principal with Calyx Sustainable Tourism and works primarily on advancing sustainable tourism practices. She also specializes in science translation, cross-border indicators with Canada, cross-disciplinary planning and environmental technical assistance to businesses. Previously, she was in-house legal counsel for EPA for industrial chemicals and biotechnology and the senior performance measure analyst with the Washington State Department of Ecology. She is on the technical advisory committee of the Seattle Culinary Academy and a long standing member of the Chefs Collaborative.

NOTE: The opinions expressed by the Greenwash Brigade bloggers and those providing comments are theirs alone, and do not reflect the opinions of American Public Media or its employees. American Public Media is not responsible for the accuracy of any of the information supplied by the Greenwash Brigade bloggers.

Marketplace

The Greenwash Brigade