DEP sheds light on (CFL) bulb (mercury) dangers (Maine)

[jpak]

http://pressherald.mainetoday.com/story.php?id=171944&ac=PHnws

Compact fluorescent light bulbs that get broken release mercury that can be more difficult to clean up than consumers and government agencies have thought, says a new report from the Maine Department of Environmental Protection.

The DEP spent months breaking bulbs in a laboratory and experimenting with cleanup strategies before issuing its report on Monday. It also posted new cleanup advice and precautions about the spiral bulbs, and advised consumers for the first time that the popular, energy-efficient lights may not the best choice for some parts of the home, including children's bedrooms and playrooms.

<snip>

DEP officials said the results won't change the state's policy of promoting the bulbs as a way to save energy and reduce global-warming pollution.

"We are still very much in support of CFL use," said Stacy Ladner, an environmental specialist with the DEP and one of three staff researchers who did the study. "Hopefully, people will think about where they put them" and how they clean up any bulbs that break.

<more>

[ben_meyers]

1. "Hopefully, people will think about where they put them"

I can think of a place where they can put them. I wonder who is really behind these things? All I can find at Sam's club anymore are CFLs.

Ill conceived government mandates do have a way of backfiring.

[damntexdem]

2. They are generally-superior light nonbulbs.

They are more energy-efficient, and they last longer. And the U.S. is behind other countries in adopting them.

[jpak]

4. It's a conspiracy - I saw a black helicopter make a CFL drop at the local Walmart last night

:rofl:

What evil "government CFL mandate" are you talking about??

I know, the one that doesn't exist...

[ben_meyers]

7. It's lights out for traditional light bulbs

A little-noticed provision of the energy bill, which is expected to become law, phases out the 125-year-old bulb in the next four to 12 years in favor of a new generation of energy-efficient lights that will cost consumers more but return their investment in a few months.

http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/energy/environment/2007-12-16-light-bulbs_N.htm

I try not to post made up crap.

[jpak]

8. Cool - that's a gov't mandate I like

:)

[kristopher]

6. A lot of governmental entities are mandating/recommending cfl

IMO The methods and logic behind these programs are very poor, however.

Some applications are inappropriate for cfls. Any light that gets turned on and off frequently isn't a good place to put one. Lights that are operating for short periods in cold places aren't good candidates for cfl.

One problem with most government programs is that they fail to inform people of those inappropriate applications, the people use the bulbs in those inappropriate applications, the bulbs fail to meet consumer expectations due to premature failure/poor performance, they then turn away from cfl for the appropriate applications.

Any program mandating or recommending the use of cfl should be coordinated with a proper recycling program for them. On balance however, even taking into account the mercury content, there is a net positive in promoting their use. The avoided mercury emissions from the coal (figuring coal at 55% of the power mix) that isn't burnt is more than what is contained in the cfls. Additionally, the mercury from the cfl is going to find its way into landfills, where studies show it is likely to be absorbed into the surrounding garbage. While this isn't a very good solution, it is better than having the mercury from the coal deposited into the water supply where it can transform into methyl mercury and enter the food supply.

[Marblehead]

3. LED bulbs

will be the future

[madokie]

5. in my world they've already taken over the flashlight duty

I drug out an ole incandesent flashlight a while back and threw it as far as I could, what a worthless pos they are compared to a led powered light. I have bought several 120 volt led replacement lights but I haven't had any luck with the ones I bought. But I agree led is the future in lighting

[Nihil]

9. Yep: LED bulb + hand-crank flashlight = big smiles all round!

All of the torches I've bought in the last few years have been
LED hand-crank ones and they have been great.

I've also fitted mains LED lights in our loft conversion, not only
for the efficiency but to reduce head pain for the 6' members of the
household - the originals were halogens and a bit too close to the
scalp for comfort!

Out of interest, what sort of problems have you had with your LED lights?
(Ours have been fine but, as we're on 240v rather than 120v, there's not
much point in comparing brands.)

[madokie]

10. Let me see, Its been a while but the problem with the few I've tried

has been that after a few months I notice that one or some of the LEDs will go dark and once one goes seems like every few days I notice more and more. Mind you these have been Chinese produced ones that I purchased on ebay I've used so I have a feeling that is more the reason. I haven't tried any of the later models that use the lumileds or nichia brand LEDs but I plan too if for no other reason than because I like the light they give off, its a different type of light. In my flashlights I use lithium batteries and they last a long time, in fact so long as I never can remember when it was I put the last ones in when I change them out, definitely worth the extra money they cost. I have a 52 LED flashlight that is awesome when you turn it on here in the house it will light the house up almost like daylight, if there is a noise at night in the back yard well I can turn that bugger on and if there is something there I will see it as it throws out a big assed wide bright beam. We have something like 26 cfl's in our house now and I will be glad when I can replace them all with LEDs as it will be another big savings on the ole bill. When we switched over to cfl's our electric bill dropped by about a fourth so they have pretty much paid for themselves already and they all have lots of life left in them. I was susprised at how much we actually saved and when we make the switch to LEDs it will even be better than that.