Coal generates a lot of unwanted pollution when mined and burned for fuel, yet it is a major source of energy for everything from generating electricity to making steel. Coal is a reliable source of energy and heat, but also a reliable pollution generator, even under current regulations. Heavy mercury deposits can be linked to powerplants where coal is used, traveling in the air and being redeposited.1 The Clean Air Act has made things better in terms of pollution at powerplants and from other sources of land and air pollution. Yet powerplants still make up about 20 percent of the manmade mercury emissions in the United States, meaning there is still more we can do.2 Coal helps keep the lights on, but at what cost?
Beginning at twilight, there are lights on in every room, lights outside, lights on the street, holiday lights, mood lights, ambient lights. There really is no shortage of electric light. We can change how much pollution is generated from coal fired power plants in many ways, but one easy way is by changing the type of light bulbs we use.
LEDs are prevalent in many devices today, from cell phones to flashlights. They’re popular for their brightness and lower energy usage. Similarly, using LED or compact fluorescent light bulbs to replace incandescent bulbs in rooms and lamps can reduce energy usage as well. Just one bulb changed in each household in America for a year is roughly equivalent to taking 800,000 cars off the road in terms of greenhouse gas emissions.3 More than just greenhouse emissions, it will help reduce the amount of mercury and other pollutants released by the burning of coal in power plants. Little changes from everyone can make a big difference for all.
Some fluorescent bulbs contain mercury and need to be handled carefully and disposed of properly. However, they’re safe when unbroken, even when in use.4 Fluorescent bulbs for household use can be recycled at hazardous waste recycling events hosted by local solid waste management districts. Many home improvement stores also accept undamaged compact fluorescent lamps for recycling. There is an ecological impact to nearly source of energy production, even green energy. The goal is always to minimize this impact while developing more positive sources that do less damage.
A strong, diverse energy grid will likely include coal and natural gas for the foreseeable future. New, creative implementations of renewable energy help to minimize the ecological impact of energy production and create a stronger, more diverse grid. Everyone shares responsibility for what the future of energy and the environment will look like. Thomas Edison changed the world forever with one invention; it’s up to us to build on that source of light to determine how it affects our future. Being energy conscious and making small, meaningful changes can collectively protect our resources, health, and the planet for ourselves and generations to come.
The level of mercury found in coal can vary dramatically. Using clean fuels may be critical in satisfying emission requirements for the Mercury Rule of the CAA. Also, the monetary value of the fly ash residue resulting from the combustion of coal may be inversely proportional to its mercury content. Mercury Analyzers provide fast, simple, and convenient analyses of these materials without sample pretreatment or production of hazardous chemical waste. U.S. EPA Method 7473 and ASTM D6722 have been approved for both laboratory and field analysis.
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References:
1. https://www.epa.gov/trinationalanalysis/mercury
2. https://www.epa.gov/mercury/basic-information-about-mercury
3. https://www.energystar.gov/products/lighting_fans/light_bulbs/learn_about_clfs/cfls_and_mercury
4.https://crsreports.congress.gov/product/pdf/RL/RL30853#:~:text=The%20act%20establishes%20federal%20standards,major%20sources%20of%20air%20pollution