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When you swap out your incandescent light bulb for a CFL one - you're risking contaminating the environment with mercury. D'OH Alert.

Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." -Manuel II Paleologus

1 posted on 05/30/2007 10:11:36 PM PDT by goldstategop
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To: goldstategop
The CFL mercury nightmare
2 posted on 05/30/2007 10:22:39 PM PDT by Sundog (It's a good day for a catharsis.)
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To: goldstategop

I think the super bright LED’s are going to be the future of lighting. Not sure how far off that is though.


3 posted on 05/30/2007 10:22:58 PM PDT by headstamp (Nothing lasts forever, Unless it does.)
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To: goldstategop

Is this the same IKEA that was merged with CANON copiers back in the 80s and 90s? I recall commercials for copiers on Sunday afternoons watching the NFL touting “The best innovative minds come together CANON/IKEA”or something to that effect. At the time, it had about the ame impact on me as WANG computers, nd look at them now.

Strange if it’s he same company. Never knew they were ever trying to be all green like this.


5 posted on 05/30/2007 10:25:47 PM PDT by Blue Highway
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To: Nathan Zachary
"That's why most of the laws banning incandescents also include fines for improper disposal of CFLs."

It looks like I called this one — much sooner than I expected too. Except for the dubious pleasure of making an accurate prediction — I can’t say I’m happy with this.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1835838/posts

6 posted on 05/30/2007 10:34:08 PM PDT by USFRIENDINVICTORIA
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To: goldstategop

Wherever there is a positive action there is a negative reaction. Too bad the loonies didn’t learn this and now they are out to save the world. Barf.


7 posted on 05/30/2007 10:46:24 PM PDT by taxesareforever (Never forget Matt Maupin)
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To: goldstategop

I love the pop sound that CFLs make when you break them inside the garbage can and in the dumpsters.

Recycling CFLs is for losers.


8 posted on 05/30/2007 10:54:28 PM PDT by Chewbacca (Vote Ron Paul for President in 2008!!!!!! The best man for the job!)
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To: goldstategop
They cannot be used in recessed lighting enclosures or enclosed globes * Because they run hotter, fires are a possibility

No, they run much cooler than incandescents, that's why they are more efficient, less of the power is wasted as heat. They work just fine in recessed lighting enclosures. I have over 50 in my home and many are in recessed enclosures. They are the only bulbs that work in my recessed lights on my top floor because they are covered by 22 inches of fiberglass insulation and only CFL's run cool enough so that the thermistor doesn't trip.

9 posted on 05/30/2007 10:59:34 PM PDT by Prokopton
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To: goldstategop

Every time I hear this story, I’m amazed all over again!! And these people call themselves “environmentalists”? I’m just speechless!


13 posted on 05/30/2007 11:19:02 PM PDT by singfreedom ("Victory at all costs,.......for without victory there is no survival."--Churchill--that's "Winston")
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To: goldstategop

It’s funny, the sun is incandescent. Old technology indeed.


15 posted on 05/30/2007 11:31:01 PM PDT by dr_lew
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To: goldstategop

Dear World Nut Daily:

The mercury is not disposed. It is recaptured, recycled and reused.


18 posted on 05/31/2007 12:11:11 AM PDT by Petronski (Fred!)
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To: goldstategop
* Because they run hotter, fires are a possibility

Huh? I've just put my fingers on the plastic shield surrounding the socket holding a 15W CFL which has been running 9 hours now.

Barely above room temperature.

When it was holding a 75W incandescent it was too hot to touch.

20 posted on 05/31/2007 12:24:39 AM PDT by Oztrich Boy (The winnah ... and new heavyweight champion of The View: Elisabeth Haaaasellllllbeck!)
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To: goldstategop

Those compact fluorescents are for the birds. I have only two types of lighting. Real fluorescents in kitchen and garage/workshop and incandescent everywhere else. I much prefer reading with an incandescent bulb.
Some of the real fluorescents are full spectrum and some of the incandescents are GE Reveal or the Phillips equivalent. These bulbs are full spectrum or close to it


22 posted on 05/31/2007 12:36:37 AM PDT by dennisw (The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction)
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To: goldstategop

Enviroweenies are one dimensional thinkers. They cannot think more than one step ahead.

This is not just with CFLs, either. Everything liberals deal with and make policy on is done on emotion, not logic. They are ALWAYS surprised when something doesn’t turn out as they expected, and that happens a lot.


24 posted on 05/31/2007 3:29:21 AM PDT by rlmorel (Liberals: If the Truth would help them, they would use it.)
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To: goldstategop
I guess it is time to go and buy a lifetime stash of incandescent bulbs, while the getting is cheap!
28 posted on 05/31/2007 4:22:15 AM PDT by rawhide
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To: goldstategop

And yet people have been disposing of the tube flourescent bulbs in normal trash for years, even though they have a much larger (although still minimal) amount of mercury.

Imagine the scare we could have telling people that if that shop light bulb in their garage falls on the floor, they may have to hire a specialist to clean the mercury vapor out of their cars.


30 posted on 05/31/2007 5:05:01 AM PDT by CharlesWayneCT
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To: goldstategop

This is more left wing B.S. the amount of mercury in the bulbs is so small it is not worth worrying about. This is scare is probably paid for by a company like GE or Phillips. That said LED lights are the future.


35 posted on 05/31/2007 5:24:30 AM PDT by reagandemo (The battle is near are you ready for the sacrifice?)
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To: goldstategop

ping, thanks for the post.


36 posted on 05/31/2007 5:26:20 AM PDT by READINABLUESTATE ("life is dangerous")
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To: goldstategop

I had to look up what the suggested method of CFL disposal is in Connecticut (one of the states that are considering a ban on incandecent bulbs). Here is what the CT dept of environmental protection says:

“Business and other non-residential generated mercury lights are subject to state hazardous waste laws and regulations that prohibit their disposal in the solid waste stream. CFLs and other fluorescent lighting generated by residents are exempt from these disposal restrictions. However, the Department strongly encourages residents to recycle their lamps through town drop offs and household hazardous waste collections. By recycling your burned out CFLs, you help keep mercury out of our environment.” (source: http://www.ct.gov/dep/cwp/view.asp?a=2708&q=378846)

My read on this: In Connecticut, there is a household hazardous waste collection schedule. You need to know when and where to go by checking on the DEP website. The larger cities have about 10 collection days a year. Towns typically have one day a year. Small town residents need to travel to larger towns.

IOW - it is a major hassle to dispose of a CFL light bulb. Since it is not illegal to simply throw them in the trash, I’m guessing that 95% of the residents will simply throw them in the trash.

So what have the environmentalists done? They’ve substituted a fake problem (global warming) with a real problem (mercury contamination of landfills).


38 posted on 05/31/2007 6:08:27 AM PDT by kidd
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To: goldstategop

Consumers and businesses have been disposing of full-size fluorescent tubes straight into the garbage truck, where they usually get broken immediately (presumably releasing the considerably-larger than 2 or 3 mg of mercury they contain) long before they reach the landfill.

It has also been pointed out that much of our power is generated from burning coal, in which mercury emitted, and that over the lifespan of the CFL the reduced electrical power consumed could actually eliminate more mercury from being released to the environment. But then some bulbs may not get used all that much before they get disposed of. Maybe they can reduce the mercury contained to an even smaller amount, maybe .5 to 1 mg?

And, finally, I agree that banning incandescent bulbs at this point is stupid, unnecessary, and premature. What are you supposed to use in your fridge, or oven? How about spot and floodlights? Is this going to affect the availability of halogen bulbs, too? There are no fluorescent substitutes for most of those applications. And don’t tell me about LED lighting - they’re not even close to being ready for prime-time for most purposes.


39 posted on 05/31/2007 6:23:48 AM PDT by -YYZ-
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To: goldstategop
I've replaced all my lights with CFLs and I'm very pleased with the quality of light.

I did it to save money - I think the global warming cult is nuts.

I'm waiting to see if I'm saving money.

P.S. Isn't the mercury "threat" overwrought to begin with?

43 posted on 05/31/2007 8:20:41 AM PDT by Scarchin (+)
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