Posted on 01/01/2011 6:48:26 PM PST by SmithL
Californians can start saying goodbye to traditional 100-watt incandescent light bulbs now that the state has become the first in the country to require a new standard for the screw-base bulbs.
Experts say the new rules, which took effect New Year's Day, will save residents money and energy. California is already the nation's leader in energy efficiency standards.
As of Saturday, what used to be a 100-watt light bulb manufactured and sold in California will have to use 72 watts or less. The 72-watt replacement bulb, also called an energy saving halogen light, will provide the same amount of light, called lumens, for lower energy cost.
Similar new standards for traditional 75-watt, 60-watt and 40-watt incandescent bulbs will go into effect in California over the next few years, with wattages reduced to 53, 43 and 29 respectively.
The new rule does not ban incandescent light bulbs; it just requires those bulbs to be 25 to 30 percent more efficient. And it only affects incandescent light bulbs manufactured after 2011, not light bulbs already in use or on store shelves.
(Excerpt) Read more at mercurynews.com ...
Just about every high school currently has hundreds of fluorescent tubes in use and have had them for about 50 years. Most of them last 10 years each and recent ones have the same mercury content as CFLs.
Even the EPA does not suggest calling hazmat for breakage.
http://epa.gov/cfl/cflcleanup.html
They say to leave the room, open windows to air it out, turn off air circulation systems to the room, cleanup the pieces, and dispose of them in a sealed container.
At worst the kid should get in trouble for broken glass on the floor.
Just so you know...
ALL fluorescent bulbs contain a trace of toxic mercury. You know those long 40W bulbs in everybody's shop overhead lights? You know those circular 25W bulbs in most kitchen ceiling fixtures? And the ones overhead in nearly every factory?
They're ALL at least as toxic that the typical CFL (the "twisty" bulbs), because they typically contain more mercury than the smaller CFLs.
So here's a hint: We've been breaking and throwing the big fluorescent bulbs away for decades. To my knowledge nobody has ever died from the mercury unless they sat around and ate them (they didn't).
You're welcome to avoid CFLs, I don't care. But I thought you'd want to be aware that mercury is nothing new or specific to the CFLs. As far as I can tell, the reason for the concern these days is a) the freakin' EPA, and b) there will be a lot more of these CFLs around per capita, so that multiplies the total amount of mercury. That's all; nothing new.
No need to exaggerate. What exactly makes them "super toxic?"
I assume that you're aware of the chemicals that have been used for over 100 years on trillions of "harmless" incandescent and fluorescent bulbs?
No need to exaggerate. What exactly makes them "super toxic?"
I assume that you're aware of the chemicals that have been used for over 100 years on trillions of "harmless" incandescent and fluorescent bulbs?
Thought it wasn't just me and my wife's imagination, been using the step ladder a lot more frequently lately.
Not too surprised that they are now China crap also.
Damned normal people!
Up to their ankles in mercury compounds, and they keep living longer and longer.
Makes it really hard for us dedicated militant neurotics to change things for the better.
Just saying...
In days past, way past, we built 2 plywood boxes and lined them with tin (or aluminum) foil and nailed in a couple of old used oven racks. We installed a 60 watt bulb in each one and they were the perfect lunch heaters.
Frozen dinners were thawed and piping hot in 2 hours, and 30 minutes to heat a sandwich. We had the freedom to put our food in and rotate it around as needed while we worked. Some time after this someone invented a microwave oven that was cheap enough for the cheap enough place I worked at and the light bulb heaters became a thing of the past, along with two of the best millwrights in the world, Willy M. and Frank T. They both had the old pacemakers and couldn’t be around microwaves. Production fell off quickly and the company went broke from trying to operate on young stupid brains instead of Frank and Willy’s experience.
True story, somewhere in the seat of Chatam County, NC. Another disfunctional result of technological advances.
Move aside sweet Bunny. I'm going the elbow my way to those shelves and don't get in my way :)
I’ve two CFL neodymium bulbs and one incandescent neodymium bulb. The light output is roughly the same in my living room.
I’ve two CFL neodymium bulbs and one incandescent neodymium bulb. The light output is roughly the same in my living room.
You accept whole scale planet wide mercury poisoning. I don’t.
I’ve two CFL neodymium bulbs and one incandescent neodymium bulb. The light output is roughly the same in my living room.
I’ve two CFL neodymium bulbs and one incandescent neodymium bulb. The light output is roughly the same in my living room.
I’ve two CFL neodymium bulbs and one incandescent neodymium bulb. The light output is roughly the same in my living room.
I am going to continue to sell them as personal heating devices. Over 90% of their energy is released as heat. the fact they also give off light is just coincidental.
Yes, but it seems to be doing something weird to your computer ;^)
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