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Light Bulbs

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Basil

Basil

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Well, ok so we have those energy-saving light bulbs in our house and now we find out that they contain Mercury and can't just be tossed out. My community, according to a front page story today, does not have any acceptable method yet for self-disposal of these new fangled bulbs! I can't just toss them in the trash. Ther solution so far is that we have to call the city's Environmental Health Department and schedule someone to come to our house to pick up the used bulbs. What a Pain!
 
I have several kinds of these flourescent bulbs in my house. I didn't know that they have mercury in them and that you just can't throw them out. /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/wall.gif

I don't generally like these type of bulbs. I don't like the color they cast, and won't use them in the bed rooms or the living room. I use them in the breezeway high hats where I have the computer. I forget what type they are, but they take about two minutes to get up to full luminence...another PITA. /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/hammer.gif
 
Ahh, but they're sooo much BETTER for the planet than those YesterTech incandescents...
Just ask any of the environmentally savvy teens. /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/devilgrin.gif
 
I just started using them when I bought the first house a few months ago, every bit counts /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/wink.gif

I didn't know that they had special disposal rules, and also didn't know that they have a warranted life of 9 years.

Patrick
 
I've been using them in the finished basement but I don't like the color...and the time it takes for them to "warm up". A 9 years my butt, I've had two go in in about a year and I've replaced them with the old normal type....Didn't know about any special disposal, just tossed them out. Now there talkin about banning the incandescent type in favor of these :S...I don't even like the look of the bulbs themselves, especially when there in fixtures where the bulb is visible.
 
Could it be that nuclear power, which could provide a huge amount of our electricity without resorting to fossil fuels, would have less environmental impact that compact florescents?

Nah, that's crazy talk....a college freshman told me so.
 
THIS thread can suddenly take a dive, too...

I'll take The Emperor's example to heart and pre-chastise meself.

Not gonna go there this time. /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/smirk.gif /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/whistle.gif
 
I use them 'cause they save me money on my hydro bill and i HATE Hydro. Perhaps i need my own power source
 
martx-5 said:
I don't like the color they cast, and won't use them in the bed rooms or the living room. ... they take about two minutes to get up to full luminence...another PITA.
Click to expand...

/bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/iagree.gif

We use them in the hall and living room where we want a low-ish light. They're lousy for reading.... /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/crazyeyes.gif

Seem to be lasting OK... so far.
/bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/yesnod.gif
 
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:]My community, according to a front page story today, does not have any acceptable method yet for self-disposal of these new fangled bulbs![/QUOTE]

hehehehe....toss 'em up in the air - sweep the bits & pieces into a paper sack - toss the sack in the trash!
 
tony barnhill said:
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:]My community, according to a front page story today, does not have any acceptable method yet for self-disposal of these new fangled bulbs!
Click to expand...

hehehehe....toss 'em up in the air - sweep the bits & pieces into a paper sack - toss the sack in the trash! [/QUOTE]

But which trash? /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/devilgrin.gif

The glass for re-cycling?
The metal for re-cycling?
The organic for composting?
The paper and card-board for re-cycling?

Very discriminating they're becoming here.... /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/wall.gif
 
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:]But which trash?

The glass for re-cycling?
The metal for re-cycling?
The organic for composting?
The paper and card-board for re-cycling?

Very discriminating they're becoming here.... [/QUOTE]

The big can you put out by the curb!

Or you could just toss 'em out the window at 65mph....
 
I'll not put them in the trash, but would like a more convenient way to dispose of them. Our local "dump" has facilities for disposing of batteries and old oil, hopefully they will add these to their list.
 
R6MGS said:
A 9 years my butt
Click to expand...

Not according to the ones I saw at the depot last weekend.

DrEntropy said:
I'll take The Emperor's example to heart and pre-chastise meself.
Click to expand...

meself too /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/angel.gif
 
I think the future of lighting will be LEDs. I bought a 3 watter to play around with for my brake lights. Burns my retina looking it, even off axis. They have 10 watt LEDs out now. No way I’m lookin’ into one of those. Check out the Phillips site if interested. Lumileds
 
heh... speaking of recycling... Has anyone ever read what materials are 'acceptable' to place in those recycling cans that you place by the curb?



erm... I have to leave it at that....
 
You're not supposed to toss an awful lot of things into the trash either....no comment /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/smile.gif

The regular old Fluorescent tubes have mercury in them too, it's part of how the things work (the show "How It's Made" has an episode that shows how they make them, and how and why they put the mercury in them). You weren't really supposed to chuck those either, but nobody made a big deal about having a special facility set up for the things.

As for the bulbs...I've replaced two bulbs in my place with them: my bedroom and my desk light. Both are 5500k daylight balanced bulbs, which I far prefer over the old yellow tungsten lights. Both of them come on instantly too, although they do get slightly brighter about a minute after being turned on - but even when cold they're bright as can be.
 
/bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/iagree.gif
 
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