NationStates Jolt Archive

Think twice about it. It turns out that dropping and breaking one of these bulbs can cause a mercury contamination hazard. Consider that a little more... Sending these bulbs to the dump is just like having thousands and millions of little mercury bombs sitting there, waiting to contaminate ground water.
http://www.canada.com/nationalpost/financialpost/story.html?id=aa7796aa-e4a5-4c06-be84-b62dee548fda&p=2

As each CFL contains five milligrams of mercury, at the Maine "safety" standard of 300 nanograms per cubic meter, it would take 16,667 cubic meters of soil to "safely" contain all the mercury in a single CFL. While CFL vendors and environmentalists tout the energy cost savings of CFLs, they conveniently omit the personal and societal costs of CFL disposal.

Where does this leave us? Well, in a quest to save a few kilowatts of power, we are risking safe drinking water, soil, and air. Great. All for a light bulb that's inferior to the incandescent, anyway.

I'm not going to buy any more, and I'm going to be very careful with the ones that I have. I'll probably only use them outdoors, or away from habited areas, anyway.

Bring on the LEDs, CFLs are a environmental disaster.

I buy them because I save a lot on my electric bill, and they take almost ten years to burn out.

But mercury is so delicious. Much more than LEDs.

Sending these bulbs to the dump is just like having thousands and millions of little mercury bombs sitting there, waiting to contaminate ground water.

That's why they're not sent to the dump, but are turned in at one's local eco station whence they are subsequently properly recycled.

You do realise that this same problem exists with the long flourescent tubes that have been around for the last thirty or forty years, right?

If the greenies don't find the funding to support proper disposal of these things they're going to force everyone to buy, that's not my fucking problem.

Only the problem of the people who live near the dump.

All for a light bulb that's inferior to the incandescent, anyway.
Based on what?

Bring on the LEDs, CFLs are a environmental disaster.
I'd buy LEDs, probably cost an assload of cash but probably last for damn near ever. LEDs are hardcore.

Think twice about it. It turns out that dropping and breaking one of these bulbs can cause a mercury contamination hazard. Consider that a little more... Sending these bulbs to the dump is just like having thousands and millions of little mercury bombs sitting there, waiting to contaminate ground water.
Try disposing of them properly then. How many people in the US actually follow the disposal directions on the stuff they are tossing out anyway?

When these first came out, our power company gave every customer in our 6 of them-I think they are the equivalent of a 75 watt bulb, but only use 12 or 18 watts.

I still have several of the originals and have more lights at this home, so I bout several more. I also use them outdoors for the larger flood lights-100 watt equivalents only use 20 some-odd watts.

I think they do last longer and they do use much less power. You do have to allow for them to warm up a little-at first,they are dim. And-the ycannot be used on a dimmer switch circuit.

I wasnt aware of the disposal problem. If the county does provide a special collection container for them,thats where I'll dispose of them.

Well, then I guess we are fucked.

Or we should all learn how to see in the dark.

Try disposing of them properly then. How many people in the US actually follow the disposal directions on the stuff they are tossing out anyway?

In some areas, proper disposal is an option. In other areas, it is not.

In some areas, proper disposal is an option. In other areas, it is not.
I havn't checked but the hardware stores selling them may offer disposal options (like tech stores), and that would usually mean chain stores.

And let's not forget what the other guy said, fluorescent lamps have been around for longer than pretty much everyone here has been alive and they use mercury in them. Getting worked up over CFLs having mercury is pretty much beating a dead horse.

I havn't checked but the hardware stores selling them may offer disposal options (like tech stores), and that would usually mean chain stores.

And let's not forget what the other guy said, fluorescent lamps have been around for longer than pretty much everyone here has been alive and they use mercury in them. Getting worked up over CFLs having mercury is pretty much beating a dead horse.

It depends on the store.

As for "improper" disposal.... The trash pickup here won't take computer monitors, etc. And we have a blue bucket with it's own pickup service for taking things like flourescents and computers and batteries.

Here, if you try disposing of it some other way (let's say you want to pour used motor oil down the sewer), you get ticketed.

That said, not everywhere in the US is like this. These are largely local laws, and local provision for disposal.

I havn't checked but the hardware stores selling them may offer disposal options (like tech stores), and that would usually mean chain stores.

And let's not forget what the other guy said, fluorescent lamps have been around for longer than pretty much everyone here has been alive and they use mercury in them. Getting worked up over CFLs having mercury is pretty much beating a dead horse.

If someone offers a proper collection for the CFLs, I'll be happy to return them there,provided I dont have to drive far to do so.

Right now, the recycling center is on a route I use regularly,so I drop my glass/plastic/carboard/metal there on a reular basis.
They also take used motor oil for recycling,as well as hazardous waste,like left-over paints & thinner,batteries,etc...
I have no problem doing my part with this stuff, but its not yet obvious there is any place to bring any used CFLs.

Getting worked up over CFLs having mercury is pretty much beating a dead horse.

or just some asshat pretending to care about the environmental effects, but really acting out of some other motive that wouldn't make for anything like a compelling line to the rest of us.

"Steven Milloy publishes JunkScience.com and CSRWatch.com. He is a junk-science expert and advocate of free enterprise, and an adjunct scholar at the Competitive Enterprise Institute."

oh, that guy (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steven_Milloy)

oh, that guy (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steven_Milloy)

Oh, an industry shill. Colour me shocked and dismayed.

While I'm all for doing "good" for the environment, I refuse to have dry eyes because politicians can't see the light of day because they've got their collective heads shoved 20 leagues up their ass. I hate fluorescent lights! They make my eyes dry, I can't read and it gives me headaches. I'm stocking up on incandescents and I don't give a damn!

I won't use CFLs. Not only because of the above but because I am known to drop fragile crap. I do NOT need mercury eating through my floor!

Alberta is banning the old-style incandescent bulbs. Soon I'll only be able to buy CFL's (or LED when they hit the market).

Well, then I guess we are fucked.

Or we should all learn how to see in the dark.

yeah, fuck lights....EVERYONE BUY NIGHT-VISION GOGGLES!

:D

Tiny amounts of mercury consumed over a long period of time can drive you insane you know. :)

They make my eyes dry

how?

Try disposing of them properly then. How many people in the US actually follow the disposal directions on the stuff they are tossing out anyway?*Raises Hand*
memememememe! I do!

then again, I follow directions. :p

Don't buy fluorescents, buy LED's. This is not new though it seems that most still sadly don't seem to know the dark side of these bright bulbs. LED's never really burn out. I built a flashlight with a cluster of 3 LED's about 12 years ago and its still as bright as the day I first turned it on.

I've never really understood why these things are still around, let alone being promoted as an environmentally friendly alternative. "Let's save the planet by poising ground water with mercury. Yay!"

how?

They make it hard to read and my eyes get dry when I do anything but blink with fluorescent lights.

They make it hard to read and my eyes get dry when I do anything but blink with fluorescent lights.

weird. i wonder why - something to do with the frequency, maybe?

So what is the best light bulb?

I've never really understood why these things are still around, let alone being promoted as an environmentally friendly alternative. "Let's save the planet by poising ground water with mercury. Yay!"
Because it is easier to install huge long fluorescent lamp tubes than a billion incandescent bulbs?

Because it is easier to install huge long fluorescent lamp tubes than a billion incandescent bulbs?
And laying out a huge, long string of LED's isn't?

In reply to Ilie's question, LED bulbs are currently the best available. They are the most efficient, longest lasting controlled (with a switch) light source mass produced. There are also some self-powered lights that use a radioactive gas to cause another material within the light to fluoresce much like ordinary fluorescent bulbs but they are not always legal. It sometimes amazes me how much fear has held back humanity. Sometimes it is warranted but usually it seems like some small, highly vocal minority allowing preconceived notions and their fear to cloud their judgement and hold the rest of us back.

Ok, nobody has LEDs yet.
Americans are retards who don't recycle enough. Every county has a HazMat disposal place. They have a small chance of breaking.

They are much superior and give a better, more pleasing, natural light.

You're prolly just some anti-environment libertarian f'job.

Eh, I'm more interested in energy saving than going green; that energy saved is that much less money going in to some Middle Eastern fuckwit's pockets. But then again, I'd rather just wait for LEDs and go from there than upgrade to fluorescent now and have to to do again in a few years.

Actually you can buy them over the internet, Sel Appa. Or if you're really good with a soldering iron you can make them yourself. I've made a couple after a visit to RadioShack about 3 years ago and I've not had to replace them ever since. Really, if you want to do the planet called dirt a favor, please use LED's. They'll last longer, they're more efficient, and they don't contain the poisons found in certain other light sources.

And laying out a huge, long string of LED's isn't?

In reply to Ilie's question, LED bulbs are currently the best available. They are the most efficient, longest lasting controlled (with a switch) light source mass produced.
LEDs are mass produced? They make long strings of LEDs to put up in office buildings?

And laying out a huge, long string of LED's isn't?

In reply to Ilie's question, LED bulbs are currently the best available. They are the most efficient, longest lasting controlled (with a switch) light source mass produced. There are also some self-powered lights that use a radioactive gas to cause another material within the light to fluoresce much like ordinary fluorescent bulbs but they are not always legal. It sometimes amazes me how much fear has held back humanity. Sometimes it is warranted but usually it seems like some small, highly vocal minority allowing preconceived notions and their fear to cloud their judgement and hold the rest of us back.

Whoa, neat. I'd buy it.

LEDs are mass produced? They make long strings of LEDs to put up in office buildings?
Yes, LED's are mass produced. You can buy them at RadioShack (http://www.radioshack.com/category/index.jsp?categoryId=2032233&cp=2032058), at other electronics stores, and over the internet. Making long rope-lights is not as difficult as you might think it is.

For those interested in buying them, just search for "LED light" or something like that and you will get quite a few sites that sell LED lights. They're expensive but last and so are worth it.

Making long rope-lights is not as difficult as you might think it is.
Why would a company bother to make them?

Why would a company bother to make them?
You (http://www.theledlight.com/light_bars.html) can (http://www.theledlight.com/flexible-ledstrips.html) also (http://www.theledlight.com/waterproof-strips.html) buy (http://www.theledlight.com/LUXstrip.html) them (http://www.theledlight.com/ice_bars.html) if (http://www.theledlight.com/acrylite_strips.html) you (http://www.ccrane.com/lights/led-light-bulbs/led-under-cabinet-lighting.aspxl) want (http://www.ccrane.com/lights/led-light-bulbs/led-under-cabinet-lighting-bar.aspx) to (http://www.ccrane.com/lights/led-light-bulbs/led-strip-lighting.aspx).

Yes, I did end that sentence with a preposition. *laughs evilly*

They burn out in less than a year if you leave them on 24/7 and if you smash it you have to pay a lot to more replace it plus make sure u clean the mercury, incandescent are cheaper to replace and look cooler and give better light and turn on faster as well.

The only fluoros we have are outside, the long time. They are tough and last a while still. I'd like to replace them with LEDs though in the end.

The only fluoros we have are outside, the long time. They are tough and last a while still. I'd like to replace them with LEDs though in the end.
You must not live where it gets really frickin cold for a significant portion of the year. Fluorescent lights have trouble operating in cold weather and take a long while to brighten up.

You must not live where it gets really frickin cold for a significant portion of the year. Fluorescent lights have trouble operating in cold weather and take a long while to brighten up.

I live in the tropics :D

Think twice about it. It turns out that dropping and breaking one of these bulbs can cause a mercury contamination hazard. Consider that a little more... Sending these bulbs to the dump is just like having thousands and millions of little mercury bombs sitting there, waiting to contaminate ground water.
http://www.canada.com/nationalpost/financialpost/story.html?id=aa7796aa-e4a5-4c06-be84-b62dee548fda&p=2

Where does this leave us? Well, in a quest to save a few kilowatts of power, we are risking safe drinking water, soil, and air. Great. All for a light bulb that's inferior to the incandescent, anyway.

I'm not going to buy any more, and I'm going to be very careful with the ones that I have. I'll probably only use them outdoors, or away from habited areas, anyway.

Bring on the LEDs, CFLs are a environmental disaster.

So don't drop them. I use them because, even though the initial cash layout is pretty high, they last for years -$2-$3 a bulb is a good price)compared to the cost of a standard light bulb) when you prorate it over 7-10 years.