light bulb reminder !

[renovation]

at the end of this month december 2011 you will no longer be able to buy. the age old incandescent light bulb.
On Jan. 1, less than one month from now, the government-mandated ban on the sale of tried-and-true 100 watt incandescent light bulb will go into effect. As a result, consumers will have no choice but to buy alternative light bulbs such as compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs). Therefore, it is time to take stock of the significant health hazard posed by the presence of mercury in those bulbs.

Recognizing the harmful effects arising from exposure to the mercury in CFLs, the Environmental Protection Agency has published a set of guidelines on handling broken CFLs. These guidelines call for residents of a house to immediately open a window in the contaminated room (if there is one), shut off any central, forced-air heating and air-conditioning systems serving the contaminated room, and then leave the room and preferably the building without walking through the breakage area.

Those left behind to clean up the contaminated area are advised to scoop up the broken pieces of the lamp and to place them in a sealed plastic bag, to wipe the contaminated area clean with damp paper towels or the like, to place the used paper towels in a glass jar or plastic bag and to then seal the jar or plastic bag. Clothing or bedding that may have been contaminated by the broken lamp should not be washed, but instead thrown away, presumably in a sealed plastic bag.

These guidelines may be austere, but for good reason. Exposure to the mercury vapors in a broken CFL can cause cancer and damage to vital internal organs such as the liver and lungs. Inhalation of the mercury vapors also can lead to blindness in young children.

In publishing these guidelines for handling broken CFLs, the EPA has chosen not to tell the public about the health hazards arising from exposure to the mercury vapors. The guidelines also neglect to advise those responsible for cleaning up broken bulbs about taking measures to minimize the harmful effects inevitably arising from exposure to the mercury fumes. Perhaps the harmful effects cannot be avoided, short of donning a protective Hazmat suit. The federal government also has chosen not to require CFL manufacturers to place a warning on packages about the health hazards associated with the mercury. (A skull-and-crossbones might be in order in view of the severe health risks mentioned above.)

Instead, CFL packages on store shelves merely state that the lamps contain mercury, leaving it to the consumer to ferret out the associated health risks.

When all is said and done, it seems that our federal government and those environmental zealots favoring the use of CFLs have gone out of their way to avoid informing the public about the severe health hazards associated with them. They seem to think that greater good will come from the reduced energy arising from the use of CFLs and the corresponding reduction of emissions from burning fossil fuels needed to supply the needed electricity.


http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/201 ... lth-risks/

[renovation]

if you follow the guide lines plan on a $500 or more bill to clean up a broken light bulb if you follow it to the letter

[RubberDuckie]

Texas has it correct

<iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/Tv59PJ30WeM" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

[RubberDuckie]

http://www.amazon.com/Feit-Electric-100 ... _hi_text_b

24 pack for $18 at amazon

[Executioner]

Planning on buying several boxes, but is that for only the 100w bulbs? I mainly use 40 and 60.

[FlyingPenguin]

First off let's clear something up. You can still buy incandescent bulbs after the end of the month. On that date, a ban on manufacturing or importing goes into effect, and only for standard bulbs NOT for decorator bulbs like candelabra bulbs.

Second of all, the dangers about mercury in these bulbs has been extremely hyped. Yes you should dispose of a CFL bulb properly just like you should dispose of a standard florescent tube properly.

No you will not have to file a form with the government if you break a bulb. Just sweep it up and throw it in the trash. People have been breaking fluorescent tubes for years and it's not been an issue. There's more mercury in a fluorescent tube than in a CFL.

Now do I LIKE that the government is imposing restrictions? No. I say let the free market sort it out. However, this whole incandescent bulb ban has been ridiculously blown out of proportion.

[renovation]

ha all heres a question for all of us .how many light bulbs are in your home ?
dont forget to count used in your attics ,garages ,sheds ,basements ,outside light fixtures then times it at what a new
CFL bulb cost .then compair it to around .49 cents for a old incandescent . talk about sticker shock ~
after this find out the price of led lights and add up what it will cost every american home to light it .im sure those same a-hole that pass this law on cfl bulbs will change /make it a law they have to go shortly due to mercury in them.

[EvilHorace]

the dangers about mercury in these bulbs has been extremely hyped. Yes you should dispose of a CFL bulb properly just like you should dispose of a standard florescent tube properly.

No you will not have to file a form with the government if you break a bulb. Just sweep it up and throw it in the trash. People have been breaking fluorescent tubes for years and it's not been an issue. There's more mercury in a fluorescent tube than in a CFL.

Where did you get your info on that? As for fluorescent tubes, how do you or anyone else for that matter know the total possible ill health effects from breathing those vapors or getting the material on your skin? Doubt that it's been thoroughly tested but odds are that those chemicals aren't good for anyone either if ever exposed.

I think it's amazing that after all these years of banning mercury in light switches, etc due to ground fill poisoning that it's somehow now OK to be using it again in something that's even far more common and will thus surely be in our landfills in even more concentration.
As far as the issues of breakage and how to handle that, do you think most people will really do anything besides vacuuming it up? Doubtful.
When they fail (which they do), will most people properly dispose of them verse tossing them in the trash? No.

[Kaworu]

Halogen lamps are way better anyhow ;D

[Pugsley]

I think it's amazing that after all these years of banning mercury in light switches, etc due to ground fill poisoning that it's somehow now OK to be using it again in something that's even far more common and will thus surely be in our landfills in even more concentration.

When it was in switches (thermostats) there was way more of it then the tiny amount of vapor that is in a CFL. Hell I should be in huge trouble then, I have a baby food jar full of the stuff somewhere out in the garage. My grandfather had it. For what I don't know.

[Key Keeper]

Weird, we played with this stuff in school science class.

[renovation]

i know when i was in school i remember playing with the silver stuff and watch it bead up on the table .but they did get upset if it made it to the floor !

[renovation]

http://ceolas.net/#li19x
LIGHT BULB CLARITY:
NEW ELECTRIC POLITICS

Dr. Peter Thornes
peter.thornes at gmail.com
click on headlines in the text to return up to the top





Introduction Overall Concept About the Websites Basic Questions




A New Electric America [EU, Canada, Australia...]
Positive, dynamic, efficient policies from generation to consumption,
rather than negative, restrictive and inefficient policies,
with their costly subsidies and regulations, and doubtful future savings.

[RubberDuckie]

The government forcing someone to purchase a more expensive bulb manufatured out of the country for the sake of conserving energy is WRONG. There are still situations where an incandescent is more efficient. Take for example an attic or basement where it is only used 1-2 times per year or cold locations where the CFL takes time to warm up. The extra capital cost and fact that they are imported does not justify the energy savings in ALL situations.

GOVERNMENT stay out of my daily life.

[FlyingPenguin]

Evil:

We've had fluorescent tubes for 60 years. They contain more mercury than a CFL. I don't hear much about people dropping dead from broken fluorescent tubes. Mythbusters seems to break one a week in their workshop when something goes flying.