Apartment now 100% CFL lit

[Rÿcher]

all of our lightbulbs within our apartment (including the basement and excluding the fridge) are now compact fluorescent bulbs.

I thought that they'd all be that annoying ultra bright white with a tinge of yellow but they're really just like regular old bulbs.

neat!

 

[Locutus of Bored]

If the conspiracy theorists are to be believed, you can thank the BIG LIGHTBULB / HIPPIE INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX for your body now being composed of at least 95% mercury. Good luck with that.

In seriousness though, you know about the proper handling and disposal of them should one break, right? It's not Chernobyl or anything like they exaggerate, but you might want to reconsider using them in any lamps that the baby can knock over.

 

[Rÿcher]

disposal, yes. handling of broken bulbs, maybe not.

Olivia's usually pretty good at following a stern "no!" when she tries hanging off the living room lamp. I haven's seen her do it since. All of our other lights or up on dressers, in ceilings or out of reach.

 

[xerxes99]

I'll be curious to know how they work out for you over time. We installed 20 or so in our house, and 7 of them have burnt out in less than a year, even though they are rated for 7 years. Of course, I bought some off-brand from Home Depot, and didn't keep the receipt, so I can't take the company up on the replacement guarantee.

They did seem to reduce the electric bill, though.

 

[Canadave]

My apartment is 100% CFL-lit, too, but only because old Tiger-Cats coaches have nothing better to do than stand around and hold flashlights for me.

/ moderately obscure joke

 

[jgdst]

My house has been using energy saver bulbs for about 2 years now, and it has made a noticeable (if not massive) difference to the electricity bill.

The best part about it is there's one light that must have faulty wiring as bulbs only used to last a fortnight or so before blowing, but with the energy savers, I'm only having to change the bulb every year or so, which isn't perfect, but it's enough of a difference.

I didn't know about turning radioactive and falling apart if they broke though... so thanks for the heads up

 

[John Picard]

I have several CFLs in my house but will go LED in my next house (hopefully this year). LEDs put out much more light at far less cost.

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

I don't have any CFLs in my house. I admit I'm still concerned about mercury, but it's mostly because I have a lot of recessed lighting fixtures in my basement ceiling, and CFLs as they are today, are not usable in those areas. So I would have to wait anyway.

In the meantime, I've stockpiled enough incandescent bulbs to last me for a decade or two. I figure by the time they run out, CFL technology will have advanced to the point at which there is no more mercury, and the bulbs will be useable in confined spaces. Or maybe there won't be any CFLs either, and we'll all be using LED lighting.

 

[Trekker4747]

I don't have any CFLs in my house. I admit I'm still concerned about mercury...

 

[TheLonelySquire]

all of our lightbulbs within our apartment (including the basement and excluding the fridge) are now compact fluorescent bulbs.

I thought that they'd all be that annoying ultra bright white with a tinge of yellow but they're really just like regular old bulbs.

neat!

I need a bigger plasma tv....

 

[John Picard]

I don't have any CFLs in my house. I admit I'm still concerned about mercury...

On yourself, Trekker. It's a legitimate concern. Honestly, the LED people need to step up their efforts to show how LED lighting is superior and safer than CFL.

http://environment.about.com/od/greenlivinginyourhome/a/cfl_mercury.htm

Mercury in Compact Fluorescent Lamps Argues for Recycling
The only drawback to using compact fluorescent lamps is that each bulb contains about 5 milligrams (mg) of mercury, a toxic heavy metal that can interfere with the development of children and unborn fetuses and may cause a wide range of health issues in adults, including brain, kidney and liver damage.
Because of the mercury they contain, compact fluorescent bulbs should be recycled lest they end up in landfills where they can contaminate air, soil and groundwater, potentially placing public health at risk.
While compact fluorescent lamps used in homes are not legally classified as hazardous waste and only large commercial users of fluorescent lights are required to recycle, proper disposal of CFLs is still the best option for both the environment and human health.

http://digg.com/environment/The_CFL_Mercury_Nightmare

HEALTH EFFECTS OF MERCURY
---------------------------------------------------
Here is a quote from a report by the National Institute of Health on the effects of Mercury:

Quote - "Exposures to very small amounts of these compounds can result in devastating neurological damage and death. For fetuses, infants and children, the primary health effects of mercury are on neurological development. Even low levels of mercury exposure such as result from mother's consumption methylmercury in dietary sources can adversely affect the brain and nervous system. Impacts on memory, attention, language and other skills have been found in children exposed to moderate levels in the womb."
Source : - http://orf.od.nih.gov/Environmental+Protection/Mercury+Free/MercuryHealthHazards.htm

http://suburbanecology.com/cfl-mercury-the-hidden-home-buying-hazard_167

CFL Mercury, The Hidden Hazard

Mercury is a hazardous element. It’s a heavy metal that, with prolonged exposure, can cause problems in brain function and development. Like lead, you need to handle mercury carefully and limit your and your children’s exposure to it.
Typical CFLs contain less than 6mg of mercury, an amount that does not pose any grave threat should the bulb break. The mercury, however is in vapor form, and so can be easily breathed in. Mercury also accumulates in your body — it is not easily eliminated — so repeated CFL breakages and repeated mercury exposure can indeed cause serious problems. So limiting mercury exposure and cleaning up properly after breaking a compact fluorescent bulb is a good idea.

 

[Trekker4747]

There's tiny ammounts of mercury in the bulb and honestly, when was the last time you broke a lightbulb?

The mercury in them is a non-issue, certainly not a big enough issue to stockpile on incandescents and fear and worry over CFLs like Baba does.

 

[John Picard]

There's tiny amounts of mercury in the bulb and honestly, when was the last time you broke a lightbulb?

The mercury in them is a non-issue, certainly not a big enough issue to stockpile on incandescents and fear and worry over CFLs like Baba does.

If the amount of Mercury is such a non-issue, why are the warnings about when they break so pronounced? I haven't broken an incandescent bulb in a few years, but when it comes to both the CFL and 4' long fluorescent bulbs, I'm very, very careful.


Tell me -- when is the last time you've been in an automobile accident? Either way, do you wear a seatbelt, and if you do, why?

 

[Trekker4747]

There's tiny amounts of mercury in the bulb and honestly, when was the last time you broke a lightbulb?

The mercury in them is a non-issue, certainly not a big enough issue to stockpile on incandescents and fear and worry over CFLs like Baba does.

If the amount of Mercury is such a non-issue, why are the warnings about when they break so pronounced?

Because Mercury is a toxic heavy metal amd the warnings have to be there by law.


Mercury is dangerous, for sure, but not so dangerous as to freak out overit, hide under the couch, and stockpile standard bulbs for fear of the day when/if we ban them for the sake of SAVING ENERGY.

Smoke detectors have radioactive material in them. How many of those do you have in your house?

There's dangerous materials inside CRT TVs and mointors. How many of those do you/did you have?

I haven't broken an incandescent bulb in a few years, but when it comes to both the CFL and 4' long fluorescent bulbs, I'm very, very careful.

As one should be. And breaking a CFL, contrary to urban myth, don't require a HAZMAT team to clean it up. Some extra precautions, for sure, but not a fearing of them to the levels some take it to.

Tell me -- when is the last time you've been in an automobile accident? Either way, do you wear a seatbelt, and if you do, why?

Yes I wear a seatbelt to increase my safety, not fear and shy away from all automobile activity.

 

[Lindley]

I stuck my finger in a cup of mercury in science class a decade ago. Am I going to die now?

 

[Trekker4747]

I stuck my finger in a cup of mercury in science class a decade ago. Am I going to die now?

You've a .000000000197% greater chance of developing Alzheimer's than you would have had you not done it.

 

[Spot's Meow]

Your apartment has a basement?!

 

[Gaseous Anomaly]

There's tiny amounts of mercury in the bulb and honestly, when was the last time you broke a lightbulb?

The mercury in them is a non-issue, certainly not a big enough issue to stockpile on incandescents and fear and worry over CFLs like Baba does.

With the protective covers now available the mercury shouldn't be a big concern. As long as you dispose of them in a safe manner.

I stuck my finger in a cup of mercury in science class a decade ago. Am I going to die now?

I guess I'm going to die too! I'm hoping for it to be around 80 years of age though.

 

[Mallory]

Your apartment has a basement?!

He's a Trekkie. I thought we all had to have basements to live in.

With the protective covers now available the mercury shouldn't be a big concern. As long as you dispose of them in a safe manner.

That's where those dumpsters at your nearby apartment complex come in handy.

I stuck my finger in a cup of mercury in science class a decade ago. Am I going to die now?

I guess I'm going to die too! I'm hoping for it to be around 80 years of age though.

I'm doomed as well. I used to play with the stuff at home all the time in the 60's.

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

With the protective covers now available the mercury shouldn't be a big concern.

Do all CFL bulbs now have these covers?