Post by: jcarter on September 04, 2011, 08:33:51 AM
So I looked up problems with CFLs.
They say, "Do not use in a socket with the base of the bulb up"
That is how our light fixtures are in our cellar, but we didn't know that about them, not on the label.
Second, "They are not dimmable"
So when the power was at half for about a minute before we shut our house power off, it must have fried the bulb.
When we turned it on after power was restored, it glowed very dimly and the base got extremely hot. Its on the kitchen counter waiting to be disposed of properly, looking that up too.
A neighbour had a similar problem with a couple of his CFLs. He tossed his into the garbage.
And they say the govt. is going to outlaw our regular bulbs in the foreseeable future, so I guess if the new ones are dangerous, we better stock up on 60, 75, and 100W old standard incandescent ones.
The darn things make me nervous now, but our cellar lights are not on unless we are doing laundry or in my husband's workshop. So we would see it or smell it.
Jane
Post by: gunug on September 04, 2011, 08:44:39 AM
Saying that the problems I have with CFL's are 1) they overheat and die way too easily, they can't seem to stand the heat they generate, 2) they don't like brown outs and power outages, 3) they're very hard to recycle around here, being considered toxic waste for the mercury content!
Post by: Xairbusdriver on September 04, 2011, 09:52:45 AM
Of course, you can 'dim' a CFL bulb by using duct tape and/or aluminum foli...
Post by: jcarter on September 04, 2011, 10:32:42 AM
We used to save the burned out incandescent ones for target practise when we are up in Maine, but you sure cant use the CFLs for that with their mercury.
They have too many problems for my liking.
Jane
Post by: Highmac on September 04, 2011, 10:41:10 AM
Edit: Tech would be a more appropriate home for this thread, so I'm moving it over
Post by: kimmer on September 04, 2011, 12:18:52 PM
For disposal: check with your local hardware store to see if they take them free of charge. Also if you have a Home Depot nearby, they take them for free, just be sure they are wrapped in a plastic bag. The few CFL's we've been forced to use and had burn out, are in the garage in a sealed zip-lock baggie. We have some from a neighbor as well (they have dogs in their garage). Whoever heads to the valley next will take the bulbs to the Home Depot.
A pox on GE and all who forced this garbage on all of us.
Post by: jcarter on September 04, 2011, 02:11:12 PM
And this is only the beginning! Its the politicians at the root of the problem too.
Our dog is never allowed in our garage, so we could put the dead CFL in there, but we do have a local hardware store, so I will ask them. If not, we have a hazard waste pickup at our high school 3 times a year.
Post by: Texas Mac Man on September 04, 2011, 05:15:03 PM
Post by: jcarter on September 04, 2011, 05:24:26 PM
Post by: Xairbusdriver on September 04, 2011, 05:33:43 PM
Post by: dolphin on September 04, 2011, 11:16:34 PM
CFL Recycling
more recycling ideas
Post by: krissel on September 04, 2011, 11:39:03 PM
Post by: jcarter on September 05, 2011, 07:34:32 AM
First one,,,,,,, "Fluorescent bulbs contain such a small amount of mercury that they can actually be thrown away just like regular light bulbs can be. Disposal is not regulated by any government standards."
Second one,,,,,, "(CFLs) come in two main types: tubular or spiral. They're well known for their energy efficiency, but they also pose a hazard if they're not disposed of properly. Each bulb contains a small amount of mercury, which is extremely toxic to animal and plant life, including humans. If they end up in the garbage and landfills, they might break and release the toxins into the atmosphere or eventually leak into the ground, contaminating soil and water.
Read more: How to Dispose of Used Spiral Fluorescent Light Bulbs | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/how_4968125_dispose-sp...1X54SrQPZ"
Post by: Xairbusdriver on September 05, 2011, 12:21:00 PM
And then, buy some gas lanterns from me!
Post by: jcarter on September 05, 2011, 03:58:32 PM
Must be some surf from somewhere out there, as we all had a ball with the high waves today. Im exhausted, (and have sand in every orifice), we couldn't bring Lilly as it was Chappoquoit beach, and thats a no-dog beach sadly.
Last day of summer vacation for many people who come to Cape Cod, but anytime from now on, the no-dog beaches become Lilly friendly.
Lets make summer last as long as we can.
Post by: Paddy on September 05, 2011, 08:35:02 PM
QUOTE
Federal legislation
In December 2007, many of these state efforts became moot when the federal government enacted the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007, which requires all general-purpose light bulbs that produce 310–2600 lumens of light[31] be 30% more energy efficient (similar to current halogen lamps) than then-current incandescent bulbs by 2012 to 2014. The efficiency standards will start with 100-watt bulbs in January 2012 and end with 40-watt bulbs in January 2014.
Light bulbs outside of this range are exempt from the restrictions. Also exempt are several classes of specialty lights, including appliance lamps, rough service bulbs, 3-way, colored lamps, stage lighting and plant lights.
By 2020, a second tier of restrictions would become effective, which requires all general-purpose bulbs to produce at least 45 lumens per watt (similar to current CFLs). Exemptions from the Act include reflector flood, 3-way, candelabra, colored, and other specialty bulbs.[32]
In 2011 Rep. Joe Barton of Texas and 14 other Republicans joined to introduce the Better Use of Light Bulbs Act or BULB Act (H.R. 91), which would have repealed Subtitle B of Title III of the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007. Barton was opposed to regulation, while Rep. Michael Burgess pointed to jobs purportedly lost to China and voiced a fear of mercury problems resulting from CFL use.[33] On July 12, 2011, H.R. 2417 failed to pass by the required two-thirds majority in the U.S. House.[34]
In December 2007, many of these state efforts became moot when the federal government enacted the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007, which requires all general-purpose light bulbs that produce 310–2600 lumens of light[31] be 30% more energy efficient (similar to current halogen lamps) than then-current incandescent bulbs by 2012 to 2014. The efficiency standards will start with 100-watt bulbs in January 2012 and end with 40-watt bulbs in January 2014.
Light bulbs outside of this range are exempt from the restrictions. Also exempt are several classes of specialty lights, including appliance lamps, rough service bulbs, 3-way, colored lamps, stage lighting and plant lights.
By 2020, a second tier of restrictions would become effective, which requires all general-purpose bulbs to produce at least 45 lumens per watt (similar to current CFLs). Exemptions from the Act include reflector flood, 3-way, candelabra, colored, and other specialty bulbs.[32]
In 2011 Rep. Joe Barton of Texas and 14 other Republicans joined to introduce the Better Use of Light Bulbs Act or BULB Act (H.R. 91), which would have repealed Subtitle B of Title III of the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007. Barton was opposed to regulation, while Rep. Michael Burgess pointed to jobs purportedly lost to China and voiced a fear of mercury problems resulting from CFL use.[33] On July 12, 2011, H.R. 2417 failed to pass by the required two-thirds majority in the U.S. House.[34]
For Canada:
Our move to CFL/energy efficient bulbs was to have taken place in January 2012, but has now been delayed until 2014:
http://www.gazette.gc.ca/rp-pr/p1/2011/201...l/reg1-eng.html
So it sounds like those of you in the US had better get stockpiling! Or do some cross-border shopping!
I'm not all that keen on a lot of CFLs - I really don't like the quality of the light that most of them produce. And I also have real issues with the fact that too many require time to come to full power. Some are so bad that it's like turning on a 10W incandescent at first. I'm hoping that LED lighting will improve - and come way down in price. At the moment, if we were to replace the halogen lights in our potlights with LEDs, they'd be $27 EACH. (I can get the halogens for $1 ea at the dollar store). Unfortunately, my Dad went nuts every time CFLs went on sale a few years ago and we're absolutely drowning in the darn things at the cottage. And most of them are the really nasty harsh bluish light/take forever to come to full power ones that were typical of the first CFLs. I flat out refuse to use them in any room I regularly inhabit! There are some better quality CFLs now (warmer color, more "instant on") - but you have to read the labels and be prepared to spend a little more in some cases.
As for CFL breakage issues, see the EPA guidelines & EU Health and Consumer Protection opinion paper:
http://www.epa.gov/cfl/cflcleanup.html
http://ec.europa.eu/health/scientific_comm...scher_o_124.pdf
Disposal of CFLs in the US:
http://www.epa.gov/cfl/cflrecycling.html#whererecycle
Disposal of CFLs in Canada:
Home Depot
Ikea
Rona Hardware
Toronto - drop off at the solid waste depots or Community Environment Days
More CFL recycling info for both US and Canada:
http://www.projectporchlight.com/content/cfl-recyclers
Frankly, I think we're creating a problem going to CFLs, since they do need to be treated as hazardous waste when they die. How much energy is saved when that is taken into consideration too? Has anyone figured that out? I'd be interested to find out!
Post by: Xairbusdriver on September 05, 2011, 09:53:24 PM
QUOTE
Has anyone figured that out?
You're assigning way too much intelligence to our elected officials! If they were that smart, they'd be working real jobs! Both the Republican and Democrats decided long ago to simply "kick-the-can" down the road for our grand-children's grand-children. "Why think about the future when there is so much we can waste today?!" Unfortunately, I don't think we have as much time as they think we do to solve many of the problems they've created, much less, the ones they've ignored. There have already been runs on the local stores by people buying up the 100 watt bulbs. Just remember, who's your gas lantern supplier of choice?!
(TS members get discounts, of course! :tip hat: )
Post by: Highmac on September 06, 2011, 03:09:00 AM
QUOTE
The death warrant of the conventional bulb was signed by EU leaders in 2007 to help meet climate change targets, but other countries have been thinking about it too. In New Zealand, a new government scrapped the ban in 2008, saying it was an example of the "nanny state philosophy".
But the US will start banning the traditional bulbs from the start of next year and a very vocal opponent is Howard Brandston, one of the most respected lighting experts in the world who was asked to redesign the lighting of the Statue of Liberty as part of the 1986 restoration.
But the US will start banning the traditional bulbs from the start of next year and a very vocal opponent is Howard Brandston, one of the most respected lighting experts in the world who was asked to redesign the lighting of the Statue of Liberty as part of the 1986 restoration.
Let's emigrate to New Zealand
Post by: jcarter on September 06, 2011, 06:57:32 AM
So TRUE!
Here is an example, our town put up a huge wind generator on the local AFB, and its miles from any dwelling. Then our town liked it, so they put up another one, but close to houses. Didnt do research on the noise and vibrations they make, and its driving the nearby homeowners crazy. The noise and vibrations at night are intolerable to sleep and live with.
And the town put another one up, which is not allowed to be turned on. No research, no forethought, wasted money, wasted time, and some very very unhappy people who have put their houses on the market. No they are not going to sell.
Why are politicians at all levels so darn stupid? Why dont they do their homework. CFL, on and on.
Anyway Im still looking at the first links where one says there isnt enuf mercury to bother, so just toss em into the garbage. Not going to do that, but its interesting that this was said.
Jane
Post by: gunug on September 06, 2011, 02:12:26 PM
QUOTE
The noise and vibrations at night are intolerable to sleep and live with.
We've got a smallish wind generator at the school I work at (35 foot mast, maybe 7 foot span on the props) and I'd rather have the noise it makes then the dog hotel and major traffic noises that I get normally at my house. I realize that the bigger wind generators make more noise.
Post by: Texas Mac Man on September 06, 2011, 04:46:30 PM
CFLs now have less mercury. The amount has dropped 60-75% compared with already low levels in 2008, without affecting performance. Most CFLs contained less than 1mg of mercury. The current Energy Star requirement in the US is less than 5mg. They should still be recycled.
Consumer Reports tested 9 60W-equivalent bulbs ranging in price from $1.50 to $10. The $10 bulb (GE Energy Smart 78961) was rated #1, but #2 (EcoSmart Soft White @ Home Depot, 1 rating point behind) is only $1.50. A $6 bulb was rated last with very poor performance.
Save your receipts & UPC codes. Since bulbs are supposed to last for years, you'll need these for returns.
LED lights are too expensive - $17 - $40, but costs are coming down.
As part of the Energy Independence & Security Act of 2007, most screw-in bulbs have to use 27% less energy by 2014. 100W bulbs can no longer be made beginning in January 2012, but stores can sell remaining stock. The 60W bulb can be made until 2014. 3-way & candelabra bulbs aren't covered & can still be made. New halogen incandescent bulbs, costing about $1.50, meet the new standard.
Post by: jcarter on September 06, 2011, 07:19:21 PM
Pretty soon the pols will create the kind of toilet paper we will have to use, what about toothpaste, its getting a bit invasive nowadays. Telling us what we have to do and use before anything has been properly researched.
Post by: Paddy on September 06, 2011, 07:21:13 PM
Post by: jcarter on September 07, 2011, 12:38:37 PM
I might keep the one in our laundry in the cellar, as its only on if Im using the machines there. That one didnt fry for some reason, its a newer one anyway.