luxemozione

The old incandescent bulbs we are therefore left, remember the last article? Upon completion of the reserves in the stores, they will begin to slowly disappear from the counter of the supermarket. But there are alternatives to incandescence? certainly yes. Direct heir is definitely the well-known, hyper-publicized "green" energy saving light, which is nothing but a trivial compact fluorescent (CFL-Compact Fluorescent Lamp) covered, at best, by a shell made of glass or other material opal, reminiscent of the now obsolete incandescent. Well ... as obsolete if technology had not fluorescent few decades of life, and then green? Do not confuse the total consumption, environmental impact, do not forget that within the CFL is contained, albeit in small amounts, a percentage of mercury, one of the most harmful substances on the planet. So what happens? Nothing, as long as these well-publicized sources are disposed properly. The risks of inappropriate disposal are well known even within the European Union, it reads REGULATION (EC) No. 244/2009 COMMISSION implementation measures for the non-directional lamps or domestic use: the mercury emitted at different stages of the life cycle of the lamps, including revenue from electricity generation in the use phase and 80% of the fluorescent lamps compact containing mercury, which presumably will not be recycled at the end of life, was calculated on the basis of the lamps installed, in2, 9 tons in 2007. In the absence of specific measures, it is expected that emissions of mercury produced by the lamps installed will rise to 3.1 tons in 2020. (Wow 80 %!!!)

So I would not say its label, at most helpful in order to reduce consumption of electricity in the home, and here it rains since the luminous efficiency of a CFL is about 5 times a normal conventional incandescent lamp.

But there are alternatives to CFL? But of course, are the LEDs, possibly not for everyone due to the cost very high, but certainly a viable alternative for the lighting of the near future, both domestic and professional.

Three technologies comparing Now: Retiring incandescent sources, which have a low luminous efficiency, saving lamps, immediate alternative to the first, but not quite green and the LEDs, the sources of the future. But how to know which of the three are to be considered truly "green", ie how to understand the direct impact that these three technologies have on the environment? Mind you when I say I intend to impact on how these technologies affect in terms of pollution of air, water, waste, consumption of resources throughout the arc of his life from cradle to grave or from production to recycling and final disposal (considering that it happens correctly).

So how do you understand how each technology "weighs" the environment? Well needed is an analysis of the life cycle or LCA (Life Cycle Assessment). Osram must know that in the month of August has announced the results of the 'LCA carried out in collaboration with the Center for Eco Innovations at Siemens Corporate Technology, the three technologies mentioned above, which show clearly how the source more "eco" of all is undoubtedly the LED that, despite what one might expect, consumes only 2% of total resources in production.

How it was possible to compare the three technologies are so different between them? Simple, by referring to a source of OSRAM LED technology designed to replace incandescent (retrofit), the Parathom classic, featuring a guaranteed lifetime of 25 thousand hours, issued a stream comparable to a 40W incandescent but with a luminous efficiency of 43 lm / W and then an actual absorption of 8W. The Parathom was compared with the technology CFL of equal power, but characterized by a half-life of 10 thousand hours, then 2.5 and relationship with the technology of incandescent equivalent power (40W) and average life 1000 hours, and equivalence ratios 25.

What has emerged from the analysis is well summarized in the chart below, where you can guess that the good old incandescent bulb is last in terms of environmental impact in production.

Up to now, have not been disclosed further details on the analysis LCA, but from what is clear from the site details will be announced in October.

I look forward to then!

And what do you say?

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