[Blackbirdws6]

All fluorescent lamps contain Mercury, even the compact fluorescent lamps as described. I don't think a ban should be imposed on incandescent light bulbs but they are the most inefficient light source available. 97% of the energy put through a incandescent light bulb is converted into heat, the other 3%....you guessed it, light.

If you wish to speak in lumens/watt (amount of visible light/energy used), low-pressure sodium and high pressure sodium lamps are the way to go. These are HID lamps which you will see in many street lamps (the yellow ones). Low pressure sodium lamps are not used because they wash out all color, High pressure sodium is a bit better but we all love the white light so those go as well.

LED's are on their way but they are expensive and are not at the efficiency levels of CFL's.

Lighting is one of the largest consumers of electrical energy in the US so it's something that should be looked at.

The guy had a good speech though.

-brian