The truth about Energy Saving Light Bulbs

[Thrilla]

*GASP*   They pollute?  They contain mercury?  They are ALL made in China?

Are these tradeoffs worth the energy that they "save"?

I would love to have a beer with this Congressman.  I'm sure he would debunk quite a few other myths that our environmentalist friends would have us believe.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=e-LOtKIIKcg

[Saniflush]

You probably just want to stand at the urinal with him like you did Carter.

[Thrilla]

You probably just want to stand at the urinal with him like you did Carter.

If I can't look at the penis of those who serve in our fine American Government, then whose penis can I look at?

[Saniflush]

If I can't look at the penis of those who serve in our fine American Government, then whose penis can I look at?

Cue Taylor.

[Thrilla]

Cue Taylor.

No worries...he had it out the entire Chick Fil-a Bowl.

[Tarheel]

*GASP*   They pollute?  They contain mercury?  They are ALL made in China?

Are these tradeoffs worth the energy that they "save"?

I would love to have a beer with this Congressman.  I'm sure he would debunk quite a few other myths that our environmentalist friends would have us believe.
...

Representative Ted Poe is one of the few people in Congress who actually has a clue...I'd prefer him for my representative (or Villa Rica, Georgia's local Representative Tim Bearden who had the guts to update Georgia's Concealed Carry Law recently so that we can be armed on MARTA now!)

[Jumbo]

*GASP*   They pollute?  They contain mercury?  They are ALL made in China?

Are these tradeoffs worth the energy that they "save"?

I would love to have a beer with this Congressman.  I'm sure he would debunk quite a few other myths that our environmentalist friends would have us believe.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=e-LOtKIIKcg

:thumbsup:

[ssgaufan]

well, do the high priced mother fuckers save me money or not?

[GarMan]

well, do the high priced mother fuckers save me money or not?

Well, they'll likely reduce your energy consumption, but you have to wonder about the additional resources and increased costs that go into manufacturing, packaging, handling and distributing these wonder-bulbs.  I also have my doubts about the consumer purchasing costs compared to the actual energy savings.  Of course, anybody who has ever tried these fancy things has likely experienced the inconvenience of them.  Many of them take a while to charge or warm up before reaching their full brightness.  They also tend to be odd-shaped or unusually large.  In some cases, they're even more fragile than normal bulbs.  And, you don't want to touch some of them when their powered, unless you enjoy the scent of burnt flesh or want to remove your fingerprints for a while. 

[Tarheel]

Well, they'll likely reduce your energy consumption, but you have to wonder about the additional resources and increased costs that go into manufacturing, packaging, handling and distributing these wonder-bulbs. 
...

What are you worrying about!?  They're all made in China and sold by Wal-marks (the largest employer in America...behind the Federal Government)!

[Tiger Six]

unless you enjoy the scent of burnt flesh or want to remove your fingerprints for a while. 

I DO enjoy the scent of burnt flesh and there has been an occasion or two where I needed to alter my fingerprints. 

So, you're saying buy?

[GarMan]

More on Fluorescent Lights...  Saving the planet has never been so fun!   

http://www.epa.gov/mercury/spills/index.htm

What to Do if a Fluorescent Light Bulb Breaks

Compact fluorescent lights (CFLs) are lighting more homes than ever before, and EPA is encouraging Americans to use and recycle them safely. Carefully recycling CFLs prevents the release of mercury into the environment and allows for the reuse of glass, metals and other materials that make up fluorescent lights.

EPA is continually reviewing its clean-up and disposal recommendations for CFLs to ensure that the Agency presents the most up-to-date information for consumers and businesses. Maine's Department of Environmental Protection released a CFL breakage study report  on February 25, 2008. EPA has conducted an initial review of this study and, as a result of this review, we have updated the CFL cleanup instructions below.

Pending the completion of a full review of the Maine study, EPA will determine whether additional changes to the cleanup recommendations are warranted. The agency plans to conduct its own study on CFLs after thorough review of the Maine study.

Fluorescent light bulbs contain a very small amount of mercury sealed within the glass tubing. EPA recommends the following clean-up and disposal below. Please also read the information on this page about what never to do with a mercury spill.

Before Clean-up: Air Out the Room
- Have people and pets leave the room, and don't let anyone walk through the breakage area on their way out.
- Open a window and leave the room for 15 minutes or more.
- Shut off the central forced-air heating/air conditioning system, if you have one.

Clean-Up Steps for Hard Surfaces
- Carefully scoop up glass pieces and powder using stiff paper or cardboard and place them in a glass jar with metal lid (such as a canning jar) or in a sealed plastic bag.
- Use sticky tape, such as duct tape, to pick up any remaining small glass fragments and powder.
- Wipe the area clean with damp paper towels or disposable wet wipes. Place towels in the glass jar or plastic bag.
- Do not use a vacuum or broom to clean up the broken bulb on hard surfaces.

Clean-up Steps for Carpeting or Rug
- Carefully pick up glass fragments and place them in a glass jar with metal lid (such as a canning jar) or in a sealed plastic bag.
- Use sticky tape, such as duct tape, to pick up any remaining small glass fragments and powder.
- If vacuuming is needed after all visible materials are removed, vacuum the area where the bulb was broken.
- Remove the vacuum bag (or empty and wipe the canister), and put the bag or vacuum debris in a sealed plastic bag.

Clean-up Steps for Clothing, Bedding and Other Soft Materials
- If clothing or bedding materials come in direct contact with broken glass or mercury-containing powder from inside the bulb that may stick to the fabric, the clothing or bedding should be thrown away. Do not wash such clothing or bedding because mercury fragments in the clothing may contaminate the machine and/or pollute sewage.
- You can, however, wash clothing or other materials that have been exposed to the mercury vapor from a broken CFL, such as the clothing you are wearing when you cleaned up the broken CFL, as long as that clothing has not come into direct contact with the materials from the broken bulb.
- If shoes come into direct contact with broken glass or mercury-containing powder from the bulb, wipe them off with damp paper towels or disposable wet wipes. Place the towels or wipes in a glass jar or plastic bag for disposal.

Disposal of Clean-up Materials
- Immediately place all clean-up materials outdoors in a trash container or protected area for the next normal trash pickup.
- Wash your hands after disposing of the jars or plastic bags containing clean-up materials.
- Check with your local or state government about disposal requirements in your specific area. Some states do not allow such trash disposal. Instead, they require that broken and unbroken mercury-containing bulbs be taken to a local recycling center.

Future Cleaning of Carpeting or Rug: Air Out the Room During and After Vacuuming
- The next several times you vacuum, shut off the central forced-air heating/air conditioning system and open a window before vacuuming.
- Keep the central heating/air conditioning system shut off and the window open for at least 15 minutes after vacuuming is completed.

[Thrilla]

I think they forgot to mention to have one of these handy should you have to clean up a broken bulb...

[Kaos]

More on Fluorescent Lights...  Saving the planet has never been so fun!   

http://www.epa.gov/mercury/spills/index.htm

It doesn't tell you what to do if you're slamming somebody over the head with it for fun. 

[GarMan]

It doesn't tell you what to do if you're slamming somebody over the head with it for fun. 

I think you're supposed to run.