Questions Arising On Mercury In Compact Fluorescents

Patchw0rk F0g sends in an article from MSNBC on how some environmentalists are having second thoughts on compact fluorescent bulbs. Their relative energy efficiency is unquestioned. The problem is the mercury — enough in one bulb to contaminate 1,000 gallons of water, even in newer low-mercury bulbs. The EPA has an 11-step cleanup process to follow when you break a CFL in your home. The specialized recycling facilities that are needed are thin on the ground — about one per county in California, one of seven states where it is illegal to dispose of CFLs in the general waste stream.

Comments

Re:But Global Warming

[speaktruth]

Because what your doctor won't tell you is that exposure from a broken bulb (or some would argue that which is radiated throught the air by an unbroken bulb) is still less than the amount of mercury and other heavy metals being injected into that same baby through vaccination. And, of course the reason your doctor won't tell you this is actually the same reason we use these bulbs to combat climate change: follow the money........

Re:Three questions.

[Bryansix]

This is not offtopic. Whomever modded it as such should have their mouth filled with dental amalgam fillings.

Thanks again Enviro-dorks

[DarkOx]

Seriously this campain against the incandescent bulb is stupid. Ok so an incandecent lamp is about 10% efficent, fine. Guess what though that is a LIE. The way I use them (at night in my home) about 9 months of the year I want the heat (northeast Ohio). So actually I am getting very effiecent use of the electrical power it takes run that bulb.

So in exchange for some energy savings in the summer months with the CFL we get to dispose of the plastic bases which are most likey not biodegradeable and or pay to recycle them. We also get to put all sorts of toxic chemistry like phosphorse and mercury into the ground or USE more energy to run some sort of facility to properly process and dispose of these things. Gee you know what that old incandescent bulb is starting to look pretty friendly to the environment by comparision.

I am not saying CFLs are bad, they just should not be used everywhere as "the green" solution there are situations where they are appropriate and ones where they are not. They work great on the garage door opener for instance. I don't want to heat the garage ever(well very rarely) and they are less vibration sensitive then incandecents. So there is a real energy saving their probably.

All this legislation to end the incandecent bulp is really short sited. Technology should be used where it fits. Judgements should be made on a situation basis. Take CAFE standards, lay all the BS about whats a truck whats a car aside, you still have the dumb standards in the first place. I can't run my engine as hot and lean as the metal would allow, because if I do the NOx emmission will be through the roof. The thing is by running it cooler its less efficent more gas is burned resulting in more other kinds of emmissions. There is also major negative impact from harvesting and refineing oil in the first place that is being ignored. If we could five mpg more out of current technology ICEs just by relaxing the NOx emmisions rules it might well be a win, especially with the availibility issues with oil we are starting to see.

Our entire eco-policy is total BS that might as well have been written by poo-slinging monkeys. There are some obvious common sense rules about disposal of dangerous materials beyond that its fair to say we should legislate that blaten waste of energy not be allowed. Perhaps you should not be allowed to air condition your home to a temp of less then 74 without a medical waivor and or heat it beyond 69. Maybe it should be illegal to drive a vehicle that is larger then X sq feet without multiple occupants or cargo. Want to own that SUV? then you need a small car when its just you driving to work etc etc. This all needs careful though and it needs to be done on a local level.

  I know that makes it hard for big manufacturers to deal with but whats sensible in Northern Ohio might not make sense for Southern Texas. Its time we swallow the hard pill and realize that we need to try and use our brains to solve our energey and pollution problems and that means all our brains yours, mine, and bill over in San Franciso. We can't expect some fuck'wit in Washington DC to fix everything.

Re:I only liked CFLs because they lasted longer.

[lpq]

So you still live at home and don't pay for electricity but your mom makes you buy your own bulbs? Geez...And I thought my mom was harsh...