photos
forums
blogs
restaurants
recipes
groups
There has recently been quite a rant on talk radio about the danger of Compact Flourescent Light Bulbs (CFL's) Like everything there are two sides of the issue. Here's what you haven't heard on talk radio.
1. Yes, there is a tiny amount of mercury in a CFL.
2. Incandescent lights dont contain mercury.
3. BUT they consume 3-4 times as much electricity as CFLs
4. AND generating that extra electricity puts three times as much Mercury IN THE AIR than that contained in a CFL. Mercury in the air is worse because the rain takes it to the water supply and fish which is mercury's fastest route into the human body.
There are different answers on how to dispose of CFL's. One EPA advisor says put them in a Zip Lock bag and dispose normally. Fresno recycling (ph 262-4259) says they are hazardous and should go to the special hazardous site which Fresno sponsors twice a year. This is the same way you should dispose of paint, chemicals, etc. The next one is June 9th. It's free. As for me, that's not too big a price to pay for the huge savings that CFLs bring to the planet and my own electric bill.
Saving Energy and
Saving the Planet
Dave Robinson
delicious
digg
reddit
newsvine
technorati
How about LED's
I wonder why nobody ever mentions LED light bulbs when they talk about saving energy? LED's use even less energy than the fluorescent bulbs. I decided to give them a try in some accent lamps, and absolutely love the quality of light they produce. It's very soft, not nearly as harsh as fluorescent bulbs, and they burn cool. One of the problems with incandescent bulbs is that they waste a lot of energy giving off heat. LED's may cost a little more, but they last much longer and will save money in the long run. This year I will be stringing LED lights on my Christmas tree, and I will be replacing all of my other light bulbs with LED's as the need arises.