fluorescent bulbs

[mav]

I want to be environmentally conscientious but I also want to be healthy. All the stores prominently feature the fluorescent lamp bulbs that use less energy. You guys are so knowledgeable. What would or do you use to be both healthy and "green."

Thanks,

Mav

People are like stained glass windows: they sparkle and shine when the sun's out, but when the darkness sets in, their true beauty is revealed only if there is light within.

~Elizabeth Kubler-Ross

[niecy]

Well my DH is an electrician. He's switched out all our bulbs for fluorescent lamp bulbs. They're a little more expensive in the beginning, but it's been almost 2 years and many of them are still good! And our energy output has gone WAY down! This is a good thing! ;)

To be more healthy, you can install full spectrum fluorescent lamp bulbs. I have some in my kitchen.

The next thing coming is LED lights. They are more expensive to buy, BUT they use even less energy than the fluorescent lamp bulbs! They pay for themselves a couple of times over with the energy savings! [8D]

Denise
T-Tapp Trainer - Illinois


http://flowerchild.younglivingworld.com
http://niecy.zaadz.com/blog

[mav]

Thanks for the answer. I was sitting on the fence on this issue and finding the full spectrum bulbs might help me decide in favor of them. Since posting, though I've done some research and I have some worries.

Except for grandkid visits, there's just DH and I at home. I know we would be responsible -- bulbs/tubes need to be properly disposed of -- should I choose to switch over, but I am still hesitant due to the chemicals. If you break one, the cleanup listed in Wikipedia (quoted below)is not very doable if you have a room full of kids, who are just the ones likely to break a bulb and get into the mess before you're even aware it's broken. Should that happen to my grandchildren on my watch I'd be so worried and feel so guilty. I guess I need to continue my research to assess the risks to me personally. For the masses, I do worry that many people who do it to save money will not understand how to properly handle them. Guess I need to look at the packaging to see what the warnings and precautions are.

"99% of the mercury is typically contained in the phosphor, especially on lamps that are near their end of life [3]. Therefore, a typical safe cleanup usually involves first opening a window and then leaving the room (restricting access) for at least 15 minutes, wearing gloves carefully dispose of any broken glass, as well as any loose white powder (fluorescent glass coating). You can use sticky tape to pick up small pieces... double bag any waste. Dispose of waste in accordance with local hazardous waste laws. Finally a wet paper towel should be used instead of a vacuum cleaner for cleanup of glass and powder, to reduce the vaporization of the mercury into the air.

The first time you vacuum the area where the bulb was broken, remove the vacuum bag once done cleaning the area (or empty and wipe the canister) and put the bag and/or vacuum debris, as well as the cleaning materials, in two sealed plastic bags in the outdoor trash or protected outdoor location for normal disposal [6]

It would be safer to use a vacuum cleaner with a HEPA filter, because older-type vacuum cleaners don't trap really-fine dust. That dust is exhausted into the room, which spreads it."

[Nikki Dawn]

Wow what a clean up![xx(] I know fluorescent bulbs are suppose to last longer but I had 2 go in the bathroom after a yr. For those with kids ....we put them in all of the rooms they love to leave lights on. I am not sure how much we are saving but I figure it must be something. We did leave regular bulbs that look pretty where we wanted them.( kitchen table and family room) We have not had any problems with them breaking. Once they are up who is touching them? I wouldn't worry about the grandkids.

[niecy]

We have been using fluorescent bulbs for over 13 years and have never had a break or have to clean up a break. ;)

Denise
T-Tapp Trainer - Illinois


http://flowerchild.younglivingworld.com
http://niecy.zaadz.com/blog

[mav]

Guess I'm remembering the days when the kids would throw something or run into a table. But I don't think we broke too many bulbs though. I think it's the fear of consequences if we did that scares me. I have enough trouble cleaning regular glass and often end up with a shard in my foot despite the most careful cleanup.

Thanks for bringing me back to the realities instead of the fears.

Mav

People are like stained glass windows: they sparkle and shine when the sun's out, but when the darkness sets in, their true beauty is revealed only if there is light within.

~Elizabeth Kubler-Ross

[katscandles]

so when they do finally go out, how are you supposed to dispose of them?? can you not just throw them away in the trash??

Kat

Kathy
Independent Jeweler, Fifth Avenue Collection (http://www.tinyurl.com/2bhwd9)
We now have Tiaras & other special occasion pieces for those beautiful blushing brides!

[mav]

quote:Originally posted by katscandles

so when they do finally go out, how are you supposed to dispose of them?? can you not just throw them away in the trash??

Kat

No, they're considered hazardous waste, which is precisely why I worry about the huge push for everyone to buy them without the huge push to educate us on how to dispose of them. We'd be exchanging the good they can do in preventing greenhouse gases for the hazards of not disposing of them properly. And I have to wonder how many people who are aware of the guidelines will actually follow them. On the other hand, I wonder exactly what would be the environmental consequences of a given %age of users not following the guidelines. How to they balanc out environmentally? From http://www.energystar.gov/ia/partners/promotions/change_light/downloads/Fact_Sheet_Mercury.pdf
"EPA recommends that consumers take advantage of available local recycling options for compact fluorescent light bulbs. EPA is working with CFL manufacturers and major U.S. retailers to expand recycling and disposal options. Consumers can contact their local municipal solid waste agency directly, or go to www.epa.gov/bulbrecycling or www.earth911.org to identify local recycling options.
If your state permits you to put used or broken CFLs in the garbage, seal the bulb in two plastic bags and put it into the outside trash, or other protected outside location, for the next normal trash collection. CFLs should not be disposed of in an incinerator."

[MommyRose]

I had no idea these had special disposal instructions. Wow!

Like Nikki, we use them in only a few places of our house. We got some for our new home after I had finished my painting. I was so appalled at how they changed my pleasant brown paints with green tinges to look like an infants diaper! [}:)] So...we went for a few select spots. I couldn't take it in the areas where I spend lots of time. Too much work went into the walls for me to look at gross colors! [xx(] So, guess I'm a little environmentally selfish! :D

~Rose

"You are Mommy and you are Rose!" Zacharaiah-age 3