As a fatwalleter, I have to point out that even if they give you the incandescent bulbs for free, you save more money in energy costs in the long run with a CFL. Also, the environment will thank you, as long as you recycle!
kimchongse said: As a fatwalleter, I have to point out that even if they give you the incandescent bulbs for free, you save more money in energy costs in the long run with a CFL. Also, the environment will thank you, as long as you recycle!as a X-10'er, I use incandescents.
kimchongse said: As a fatwalleter, I have to point out that even if they give you the incandescent bulbs for free, you save more money in energy costs in the long run with a CFL. Also, the environment will thank you, as long as you recycle!
In generally speaking, it is partially true to say that the "CFL saves energy". There is more to it. I did a bit of research on all different kinds of light bulbs and technologies back then and found out this. Have you guy noticed when you turn on the CFL, it is like starting and 'engine'. If you know what I meant, it turns on and off so many times before it stays on. At that moment, correct me if I am wrong, it consumes a lot more energy compares to stay on condition, even more than incandescent light bulbs. In addition, keeps turning CFL on and off kills the life span of the CFL tremendously. In conclusion, I used CFL bulbs in the area which the light would stay on for long period of time. On the other hand, I would use incandescent bulbs in the area which the light would be turned on and off very often (for example, the restroom). my2cents
psxzombie said: kimchongse said: As a fatwalleter, I have to point out that even if they give you the incandescent bulbs for free, you save more money in energy costs in the long run with a CFL. Also, the environment will thank you, as long as you recycle!as a X-10'er, I use incandescents.As an Insteon'er, I use any and every type of bulb. See Insteon intro
All the talk of heavy metals in CFLs is just scaremongering. The amount in each bulb is miniscule, equivalent to a handful of servings of tuna. Recycle them and none of it gets in the environment. Next you'll hear people crying about thermometers because they have mercury inside. sheesh
peas said: psxzombie said: kimchongse said: As a fatwalleter, I have to point out that even if they give you the incandescent bulbs for free, you save more money in energy costs in the long run with a CFL. Also, the environment will thank you, as long as you recycle!as a X-10'er, I use incandescents.As an Insteon'er, I use any and every type of bulb. See Insteon intro
All the talk of heavy metals in CFLs is just scaremongering. The amount in each bulb is miniscule, equivalent to a handful of servings of tuna. Recycle them and none of it gets in the environment. Next you'll hear people crying about thermometers because they have mercury inside. sheesh
Agreed.
I read an article claiming that burning enough coal to generate the electricity savings of a CFL over the equivalent incandescent releases 4x the mercury to the atmosphere than is contained in a single CFL.
peas said: psxzombie said: kimchongse said: As a fatwalleter, I have to point out that even if they give you the incandescent bulbs for free, you save more money in energy costs in the long run with a CFL. Also, the environment will thank you, as long as you recycle!as a X-10'er, I use incandescents.As an Insteon'er, I use any and every type of bulb. See Insteon intro
All the talk of heavy metals in CFLs is just scaremongering. The amount in each bulb is miniscule, equivalent to a handful of servings of tuna. Recycle them and none of it gets in the environment. Next you'll hear people crying about thermometers because they have mercury inside. sheesh
wholly misinformation batman.
You may be confused because Mercury in CFLs is measured in milligrams (about 5mg per light). Mercury in tuna is measured in micrograms (1000 micrograms per milligram)
According to the all knowing google 6 oz of tuna has between 80-140 micrograms (compated to 5000 micrograms in a CFL) so about 30-50 cans of tuna would contain the same mercury as in one CFL. Unless you have really big 50 can hands, you are way off. Not sure who besides a mercury or CFL manufacturer would have a reason to misinform you?
PSA EPA cleanup for broken CFL
Safe cleanup precautions: If a CFL breaks in your home, open nearby windows to disperse any vapor that may escape, carefully sweep up the fragments (do not use your hands) and wipe the area with a disposable paper towel to remove all glass fragments. Do not use a vacuum. Place all fragments in a sealed plastic bag and follow disposal instructions above.
Keep people and pets away from the breakage area - do not step on the area when leaving. Open windows and leave the area for 15 minutes before returning to begin cleanup. Wear rubber gloves and a dust mask - put in glass container when finished. Carefully remove large pieces and place them in the glass container. Using the duct tape pick up all remaining fine particles and put in glass container. Wipe the area with a damp microfiber cloth, put in glass container. Do not rinse them between uses. Put all waste and cleanup materials in the glass container, seal it and label it Toxic Waste Broken Light. Wash your hands and face carefully with soap. Remove glass container from the home. Continue ventilating the room for several hours. Take the glass container with the waste material to a facility that accepts toxic waste. Call earth911.org for a toxic waste facility near you. If you have throw rugs remove them and bring them to the toxic waste facility. if the break happened on carpeting cut the area of carpet where the breakage occurred particularly if the area is requested by infants, small children, pregnant women, the elderly, pets or people with compromised immune systems. Whenever you replace a CFL light put down a drop cloth so any accidental breakage can be cleaned up easily. The drop cloth and broken CFL light must still be taken to a toxic waste facility
"if the break happened on carpeting cut the area of carpet where the breakage occurred particularly if the area is requested by infants, small children, pregnant women, the elderly, pets or people with compromised immune systems."
"I've got a compromised immune system and am elderly; may I request this area of the carpet, please?"
Xam said: In generally speaking, it is partially true to say that the "CFL saves energy". There is more to it. I did a bit of research on all different kinds of light bulbs and technologies back then and found out this. Have you guy noticed when you turn on the CFL, it is like starting and 'engine'. If you know what I meant, it turns on and off so many times before it stays on. At that moment, correct me if I am wrong, it consumes a lot more energy compares to stay on condition, even more than incandescent light bulbs. In addition, keeps turning CFL on and off kills the life span of the CFL tremendously. In conclusion, I used CFL bulbs in the area which the light would stay on for long period of time. On the other hand, I would use incandescent bulbs in the area which the light would be turned on and off very often (for example, the restroom). my2centsAssuming that start-up requires an unrealistic 15A for 2 seconds, that's 3600J of energy, or what a 25W light consumes in 4 minutes. But only really old CFLs need nearly that long to turn on, and I don't believe the transistors in a burned-out MaxLite CFL I looked at were rated for 15A.
OTOH turning fluorescents on and off is hard on them, or at least on the electronics that drive them, and the Sept., 2009 Consumer Reports rates bulbs not only according to how long they last in continuous use but also when toggled on for 5 minutes, off for 5, and the best performers in that test were Home Depot EcoSmart spiral and reflector/flood bulbs. The 14W spirals are $1.85 for a 4-pack in some stores.
I would like to think the EU gets it right more often than not. Our nation is a nation of fear mongers (think healthcare) so for me I wil continue to buy and use CFLs as I have done since 2004
lekhak said: Soft Whites as always - all stores have sales on just these. Costco is an exception though.
Personally I prefer Daylights as they are the brightest. More info here: wikipediaThe life of a CFL is significantly shorter if it is only turned on for a few minutes at a time: In the case of a 5-minute on/off cycle the lifespan of a CFL can be up to 85% shorter, reducing its lifespan to "close to that of incandescent light bulbs".[11] The US Energy Star program says to leave them on at least 15 minutes at a time to mitigate this problem.
larrymoencurly said: A long time ago, I saw some clear silicone rubber spray for making incandescent lightbulbs shatter resistant, and maybe it can be applied to CFLs.
Industrial safety incandescents have been available with silicone rubber coatings for decades.
I personally love CFL's and Ott Lites. They save me money, and the color of the light is just right, IMHO.
Incandescent Lights are very GREEN; no mercury at all. If powered by clean Nuclear Energy they are extremely kind to the environment. But I avoid them. The light is too yellow for my taste.
You may be confused because Mercury in CFLs is measured in milligrams (about 5mg per light). Mercury in tuna is measured in micrograms (1000 micrograms per milligram)
According to the all knowing google 6 oz of tuna has between 80-140 micrograms (compated to 5000 micrograms in a CFL) so about 30-50 cans of tuna would contain the same mercury as in one CFL. Unless you have really big 50 can hands, you are way off. Not sure who besides a mercury or CFL manufacturer would have a reason to misinform you? that would be unholy misinformation, catwoman.
ANightShopper said: lekhak said: Soft Whites as always - all stores have sales on just these. Costco is an exception though.
Personally I prefer Daylights as they are the brightest. More info here: wikipediaThe life of a CFL is significantly shorter if it is only turned on for a few minutes at a time: In the case of a 5-minute on/off cycle the lifespan of a CFL can be up to 85% shorter, reducing its lifespan to "close to that of incandescent light bulbs".[11] The US Energy Star program says to leave them on at least 15 minutes at a time to mitigate this problem.
DealWinners said: Where do I recyle this bulb?Home Depot.
VirtuaL said: ANightShopper said: The life of a CFL is significantly shorter if it is only turned on for a few minutes at a time: In the case of a 5-minute on/off cycle the lifespan of a CFL can be up to 85% shorter, reducing its lifespan to "close to that of incandescent light bulbs".[11] The US Energy Star program says to leave them on at least 15 minutes at a time to mitigate this problem.Hmm. "Save energy - leave the lights on longer".
Something does not compute about CFLs. Again, that was on older generation CFLs. The current gen CFL ballasts handle short on/off cycles much better. It's still best to avoid placing them in locations where the light is cycled on/off alot, but I've had one in a bathroom where the light stays on a couple minutes at a time and it's lasted over 2 yrs and doesn't show signs of dying.
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