Manufacturers are not required to indicate how much toxic mercury is in your lighting.  So we created in 2008 the nation's first list of 700 energy efficient, long-lasting lighting by major manufacturers with the lower levels of toxic mercury.

Why try LEDs or CFLs

• Energy Star LEDs are more efficient, durable, and longer lasting than incandescents and fluorescents.
• Save $30 in electricity costs over each compact fluorescent lightbulb's (CFL) lifetime.

SF City Staff Lighting Compliance Checklist

1. Get an email when the list of bulbs and ballasts are ready from the new 2012-present lamps and ballast contract.  For now, buy new LEDs, bulbs and ballasts that meet these specifications, or 2005-2012 SF Approved bulbs, ballasts, and fixtures.  All other lighting is LIMITED USE (inefficient, short-life, or high mercury), such as:

• T12 lamps or ballasts.
• Incandescents that cannot be replaced with LEDs, CFLs, other fluorescents, high-intensity discharge lamps.
• Specialty applications (e.g., historic fixtures).

2. Who can help you avoid LIMITED USE lighting:

• Steven Mesh, LC, IESNA, Pacific Energy Center, 415-972-5238, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

• SFPUC retrofit program: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , 415-554-3101.

3. Order posters to hang where lighting is collected for recycling.

4. Recycle Lighting

• City-owned buildings: have your lighting vendor or SFDPH pick it up ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , 415-252-3962).  

• Privately-owned buildings: check RecycleWhere.org.

5. Use the Buy Green Checklist for compliance and prizes.  Compliance is monitored by Office of Contract Administration and SF Department of Environment.

SF business and property owner energy savings program

Contact SF Energy Watch (415-355-3769) to get a free on-site assessment to identify energy savings and low-cost installation of energy-saving equipment.

Why buy low-mercury lighting and recycle

Fluorescent bulbs contain elemental mercury. If they break, mercury is breathed as a vapor:

• Short-term acute exposure can cause pneumonia-like symptoms.

• Other symptoms: tremors; insomnia; weakness; muscle atrophy, twitching; headaches; decrease of cognitive function. Higher exposures can lead to kidney effects, respiratory failure and death.

Mercury released in the air gets into water and fish. It transforms into methylmercury in fish.  Up to 637,233 children/year have cord blood mercury levels over 5.8 μg/L, a level associated with loss of IQ.

Coal-burning power plants are the largest man-made source of mercury emissions to the air in the U.S. Using energy-efficient lighting reduces demand for power, which reduces mercury released by coal-burning power plants.

Recycle lighting and products with toxic mercury at Earth 911

• Ballasts and bulbs (fluorescents, neon, metal halide, mercury vapor)

• Singing greeting cards, flashing jewelry and shoes

• Thermometers, thermostats

How products get on the List

• SF Approved Lighting products are primarily limited to products SF City Departments can buy at a contract negotiated price.  It is not a full list of all low-mercury, energy-efficient lighting in the world. 
• Learn more about how products get on the List.
• Sign up to get an email when this Lighting List is updated in 2012.

Who created this List

Editors:

Advisors:

• Danielle Dowers, SF Public Utilities Commission

Contributors:

• Bulbs, Tubes