How green is an LED lightbulb?

LED light bulbs (light emitting diodes) are considered one of the most environmentally friendly light sources, using about 30% less energy than a cfl light and 80% less than an ordinary incandesant lightbulb. See also: Incandesant lightbulb , cfl

What goes into an LED lightbulb

LED bulbs don't contian mercury unlike CFLs so manufacturing impact is a little less. However

Chemical contamination

Not much chemical contamination is produced in the life of an LED. Lasting for upwards of 100,000 hours and consuming only 1 watt of electricity it's hard to image a more efficient way to light.

Lifetime embodied energy

Although an LED uses a very small amount of electricity it can have a very long service life which adds up to a fairly heavy carbon footprint. If the LEDs are run from renewable resources like solar of wind power the carbon footprint could be reduced to almost zero, but as less than 5% of enrgery in the UK comes from renewable sources it would be more than likey that the energy requirment of LED lights would be satified through conventional fossil fuel power sources.

Recycling and material recovery

LEDs contain a very small amount of semiconductor which is covered with an acrylic lens, then ussually soldered onto a small circuit board. None of which can easily be recycled and would most likely end up in landfill.

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