Are Mercury-Containing Lights Doomed to Extinction?

[Nonya]

I came across an article stating that Vermont may be the first state to ban mercury-containing lights. Is this going to be the death blow to metal halides and fluorescents?
https://vtdigger.org/2021/12/24/ver...s to issue,first state in the nation to do so.

 

[blaxsun]

Possibly for retail sales of new lights. You'll still have used lights and whatever people bring-in from out of state (that's always harder to legislate and enforce).

 

[Nonya]

At least for retail sales of new lights. You'll still have used lights and whatever people bring-in from out of state.

True, but at some point, it's likely that every state and/or the federal government is going to follow suit. LED technology is advanced enough that the other lighting types are no longer needed.

 

[blaxsun]

True, but at some point, it's likely that every state and/or the federal government is going to follow suit.

That's a distinct possibility, yes. I still remember how long it took to phase-out leaded gasoline...

 

[jda]

Every one of these always has specifically mentioned general lighting. Specialty lighting is not the same thing. What is nuts is that most of the big-box store here in Colorado have replaced their LEDs with solar tubes (we have a lot of sun) and T5s.

BTW - you can still buy leaded gasoline for specialty applications (lead added to regular gas at the pump, most likely) for vintage tractors, cars, other old motors, etc. Leaded gas is just no longer available for general passenger vehicles.

 

[EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal]

True, but at some point, it's likely that every state and/or the federal government is going to follow suit. LED technology is advanced enough that the other lighting types are no longer needed.

Hmmm... time to stockpile T5s? I need to diversify my retirement investments

 

[oreo54]

Every one of these always has specifically mentioned general lighting. Specialty lighting is not the same thing. What is nuts is that most of the big-box store here in Colorado have replaced their LEDs with solar tubes (we have a lot of sun) and T5s.

BTW - you can still buy leaded gasoline for specialty applications (lead added to regular gas at the pump, most likely) for vintage tractors, cars, other old motors, etc. Leaded gas is just no longer available for general passenger vehicles.

If general lighting is banned it is economically unlikely "specialty" will not follow..
Now that said mh will be the last to go and could take a decade or so.

but tubes..

“Linear fluorescent lamps continue to experience a double-digit decline in demand year over year for the last five years across the lighting industry,” the spokesperson said.

 

[Nonya]

Hmmm... time to stockpile T5s? I need to diversify my retirement investments

I've heard a few MH users say the same thing. I have to wonder if MH and T5 prices will go up as supplies continue to diminish. I had heard that three of the MH producers stopped making them since LEDs became popular.

 

[Nonya]

If general lighting is banned it is economically unlikely "specialty" will not follow..
Now that said mh will be the last to go and could take a decade or so.

but tubes..

Just a personal opinion, but as retail LEDs continue to improve in spectrum and intensity for reefers, any argument in support of the mercury-based bulbs will become moot. The right combination of LED wavelengths and number of emitters can easily approximate the rest. The primary issue now seems to be the unreasonable cost of retail LED systems, which is why my personal long-term solution will be DIY.

 

[Malcontent]

What about UV sterilizer bulbs?

 

[oreo54]

Not ready for primetime but getting there. ...tic tok.

UV-C LED | SAMSUNG LED | Samsung LED Global Website

Samsung UV-C LED - UV LEDs. Samsung’s UV-C LED effectively disinfects and sterilizes water, air and surfaces through spectrum engineering

www.samsung.com

Opto Semiconductors | OSRAM

www.osram.com

 

[jda]

I think that as long as VHO T12s are still made, you all are safe with your UV tubes, T5s and MH bulbs. Demise has been promised for more than a decade just like LEDs that can do the exact same thing and neither has happened.

 

[oreo54]

It will never be up to "us"...

Emerging economies to favor LED lamp market trends, government bodies to play a pivotal role in the industry commercialization

LED Lamp Market scale has witnessed a swift upsurge with the commendable product penetration across the industrial and residential sectors. The LED lamp industry growth is not only attributed to th…

gminsights.wordpress.com

The recent noteworthy initiative in this regard is by Phillips Lighting where the company has developed LED lamps in a research partnership with Dubai Municipality. The company aims to supply 2 million ‘Dubai Lamps’ across the city in 2017, covering the residential and commercial sectors. This number is estimated to reach 10 million lamps by 2021, which signifies the huge expansion of LED lamp market across the country. Philips claims these lamps to reduce the electricity consumption by 90%. The innovation of ‘Dubai Lamps’ is certainly a groundbreaking move in the LED lamp industry. Other companies exploiting the opportunities in the LED lamp market include GE, Cree, Samsung, Osram, etc.
.......
The emerging economies such as India and China are becoming popular platforms for the LED lamp market expansion. The rapid economic development, urban projects, and favorable government policies are the factors influencing the investments of the industry players in these regions. For instance, the Government of India, under the UJALA scheme, provides these lamps at lower prices, making it quite a viable option for the lower-income groups as well. Lighting Africa Program by the World Bank which enables sustainable lighting solutions access to 250 million people across sub-Saharan Africa, also provided a phenomenal impetus to LED lamp industry.............Europe is also one of the prominent regions partaking in the LED lamp industry share. The energy standards set by the European Commission has propelled the adoption of LED lamps across residential, industrial, and public areas. As per the estimates, Europe accounted for 25% of the overall LED lamp market size in 2016 and is forecast to witness phenomenal gains over the years ahead. Apart from the favorable government norms, the technological advancements in this region such as Smart Homes and Smart City initiatives are also driving the Europe LED lamp industry size.

...............

(Removed my personal rant)

 

[Malcontent]

Interesting story behind the Dubai lamps. They're under-driven so they don't fail like certain brands I won't mention.

 

[Lbrdsoxfan]

What about UV sterilizer bulbs?

Much wider application(s) than only aquaria.

 

[jda]

Tanning beds, incubator (for nearly every application from bacteria to embryos to newborns), heating lights, holiday lights (amazingly), photography stuff, horticulture, hobbies, food service and hundreds of more will not apply to these laws unless they specifically say so. One reason that you don't have to worry is that no big-time LED company wants to mess around trying to displace a few thousand people who use niche stuff... plus the companies that make them now own the equipment and can use it to make more bulbs.

I have heard that Hamilton can sell enough bulbs to just public aquariums to make it worthwhile for production runs... and then we can buy bulbs too. Phoenix 14k and Radium 20k are general purpose bulbs in Japan and the EU and are made in abundance. ReefBrite and Giesemann sell enough to formulate new bulbs in the last few years with better spectrum and much less heat (new Hamilton 20k is also less heat). Heard that ATI does well, but have not been to Germany to talk with them and have not seen them at a show in a LONG time, so I have not been able to ask.

I am almost sick of typing this about general lighting not being the same thing as specialty lighting.. and while I imagine that some day, all of this will be gone, I am more worried about the banning of importing coral and fish before I am worried about lights.

 

[Nonya]

Every one of these always has specifically mentioned general lighting. Specialty lighting is not the same thing. What is nuts is that most of the big-box store here in Colorado have replaced their LEDs with solar tubes (we have a lot of sun) and T5s.

BTW - you can still buy leaded gasoline for specialty applications (lead added to regular gas at the pump, most likely) for vintage tractors, cars, other old motors, etc. Leaded gas is just no longer available for general passenger vehicles.

Reefing hobbyists would like to think T-5s are specialty lights, but under RoHS, aquarium lights aren't considered specialty lighting. UV sterilization lighting (i.e., medical) has an exemption. As of Feb 2023, mercury-containing lights (MH and fluorescent (like T-5) will be banned by the EU.

 

[Nonya]

Tanning beds, incubator (for nearly every application from bacteria to embryos to newborns), heating lights, holiday lights (amazingly), photography stuff, horticulture, hobbies, food service and hundreds of more will not apply to these laws unless they specifically say so. One reason that you don't have to worry is that no big-time LED company wants to mess around trying to displace a few thousand people who use niche stuff... plus the companies that make them now own the equipment and can use it to make more bulbs.

I have heard that Hamilton can sell enough bulbs to just public aquariums to make it worthwhile for production runs... and then we can buy bulbs too. Phoenix 14k and Radium 20k are general purpose bulbs in Japan and the EU and are made in abundance. ReefBrite and Giesemann sell enough to formulate new bulbs in the last few years with better spectrum and much less heat (new Hamilton 20k is also less heat). Heard that ATI does well, but have not been to Germany to talk with them and have not seen them at a show in a LONG time, so I have not been able to ask.

I am almost sick of typing this about general lighting not being the same thing as specialty lighting.. and while I imagine that some day, all of this will be gone, I am more worried about the banning of importing coral and fish before I am worried about lights.

Ok, go to 9:24 in this video to see that aquarium fluorescents are NOT specialty bulbs. Only reef hobbyists believe that.

 

[Nonya]

Every one of these always has specifically mentioned general lighting. Specialty lighting is not the same thing. What is nuts is that most of the big-box store here in Colorado have replaced their LEDs with solar tubes (we have a lot of sun) and T5s.

BTW - you can still buy leaded gasoline for specialty applications (lead added to regular gas at the pump, most likely) for vintage tractors, cars, other old motors, etc. Leaded gas is just no longer available for general passenger vehicles.

Aquarium lighting isn't in the "specialty" category. Just because you think it should be,, it doesn't make it true. The EU (where aquarium T-5 and MH are made) doesn't give a crap what reefing hobbyists believe.
Leaded gasoline vs. mercury-based bulbs isn't a valid comparison.

 

[Nonya]

"The European Commission (EC) published 12 amendments to the EU RoHS Directive 2011/65/EU. These amendments aim to end a wide range of existing exemptions for the use of mercury in lamps and grant exemptions where substitution of alternatives is technically impracticable. The amendments will come into force on 13 March 2022."

"Mercury is one of the restricted substances under the RoHS Directive. This is an element with neurotoxic effects and is used in manufacturing products such as lamps, switches, batteries, etc. Exposure to a high level of mercury can cause damage to the brain, lungs, kidneys and immune system. As of now, mercury-free alternatives are available for lamps. Hence, the EC decided to reject the renewal applications of certain mercury exemptions."

Mercury-free alternatives are absolutely available for MH and fluorescents.