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MSNBC: Hazards of fluorescent bulbs
Break a bulb? Five steps for cleanup
That was the wrong answer, according to the EPA. It offers a detailed, 11-step procedure you should follow: Air out the room for a quarter of an hour. Wear gloves. Double-bag the refuse. Use duct tape to lift the residue from a carpet. Don’t use a vacuum cleaner, as that will only spread the problem. The next time you vacuum the area, immediately dispose of the vacuum bag.
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CFL Bulbs Have One Hitch: Toxic Mercury
NPR - Mercury is a potent neurotoxin and it's especially dangerous for children and fetuses. Some states, cities and counties have outlawed putting CFL bulbs in the trash, but in most state the practice is legal.
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Fluorescent Bulbs Are Efficient, But...
Digital Home - CFLs are disadvantaged vs incandescents for the following reasons: * Color Rendering - CFLs often put out an artificial unattractive looking light
* Short life - Contrary to what experts say, they burn out faster than their ratings
* Recessed lights - You can’t put CFLs in them without fire hazards
* Dimmers - CFLs don't work with dimmers
* 3-Way Lighting - CFL don’t work with 3-way lights
CFLs are potentially dangerous because they contain a trace amount of Mercury in every bulb. Mercury is a neurotoxin. The EU actually requires that CFLs be disposed of through recyclers who are equipped to handle these things. Before banning incandescent bulbs, governments need to have a safe disposal mechanism.
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EU to Make Incandescent Light Bulbs Illegal
CBC - The European Union is looking to join other parts of the world in efforts to slash energy consumption by pushing for an increased use of energy-saving light bulbs.
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EU can be Model for U.S., India, & China
Reuters - Berlin, Germany: The European Union's adoption of measures to fight climate change this week could set an example for the United States, China and India, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Saturday.
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NJ Legislators - More Efficient Light Bulbs
Associated Press - Trenton, N.J.: South Jersey Assembly is pushing to have all state buildings switch from incandescent to fluorescent light bulbs, because they're more energy efficient and longer lasting.
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Building a Better Light Bulb
CNN - Lighting is a $40 billion-a-year business, and getting the world to switch bulbs is a formidable task. CFLs, as they're known, cost more than old-style incandescent bulbs, but they last longer, use far less electricity, save consumers' money in the long run and reduce greenhouse gases.
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Technology Takes on the Old-Fashion Light Bulb
Pittsburgh Tribune - The incandescent bulb is not energy efficient. Only five percent of the energy produced goes to the light, the rest goes to heat. This is why the bulb is so hot to the touch. This huge buildup of heat not only raises electric bills, but it also will force air conditioning systems to work harder to cool rooms.
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New Twist in Light Bulbs
Akron Beacon Journal - Compact fluorescent bulbs, those swirled, energy-efficient light bulbs have been in the news a lot lately as people look for ways to save money and save the planet.
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GE's & Philips' Better Idea: Fluorescent Bulbs
Fluorescent bulbs light by heating gas inside a glass tube, compared to incandescent bulbs that heat a filament for light. Fluorescent bulbs emit about 90% of the light of comparable incandescent bulbs but only use about 27% of the energy of an incandescent bulb -- roughly one-fourth the energy, an enormous energy advantage.
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