Are earth friendly light bulbs really toxic?

blondieblue227
blondieblue227 Va, USA Posts: 4,509
edited February 2008 in All Encompassing Trip
Is this true?
Just something I heard.
Toxic when in landfill.
*~Pearl Jam will be blasted from speakers until morale improves~*

Post edited by Unknown User on

Comments

  • Rygar
    Rygar Posts: 8,712
    I don't think I've ever heard of an earth-friendly light bulb...

    If you mean the coiled energy saving type, I think they're designed to use less energy and last a long longer. I doubt they're any better when it comes to disposal. They also (mostly) use blue light which is duller and is hypothesized to make people depressed, they are switching I believe.
  • transplant
    transplant Posts: 1,088
    yes, they contain mercury.
  • blondieblue227
    blondieblue227 Va, USA Posts: 4,509
    sorry, yes i meant the energy saving type bulb.

    so both type of bulbs contain mercury. the same amount of mercury?
    *~Pearl Jam will be blasted from speakers until morale improves~*

  • roar
    roar Posts: 1,116
    You're talking about CFLs. The mercury hazard happens when they break. Gotta take the used ones to a hazardous-waste facility. Fortunately, they last about ten times longer...so you won't have to do this as often as you'd be throwing out regular lightbulbs.

    http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=7431198
  • GreenTeaDisease
    GreenTeaDisease Posts: 3,359
    yeah they should not go in a landfill (though I'm sure plenty of them are).
  • blondieblue227
    blondieblue227 Va, USA Posts: 4,509
    ok that makes sense. Thanks.
    So the coil bulbs last longer and save energy, but you must take them to a special disposal facility.
    *~Pearl Jam will be blasted from speakers until morale improves~*

  • GreenTeaDisease
    GreenTeaDisease Posts: 3,359
    blondieblue227 wrote:
    ok that makes sense. Thanks.
    So the coil bulbs last longer and save energy, but you must take them to a special disposal facility.

    yes they are "compact fluorescent" bulbs. they really save quite a bit of energy. (but be warned, they don't fit in all lamps, physically. most but not all.) It is worth it if you dispose of them properly. they take a long time to light up- you turn on the light and it's dim for a few minutes before it gets to full brightness.
  • tybird
    tybird Posts: 17,388
    blondieblue227 wrote:
    ok that makes sense. Thanks.
    So the coil bulbs last longer and save energy, but you must take them to a special disposal facility.
    You got it...in a nutshell.
    All the world will be your enemy, Prince with a thousand enemies, and whenever they catch you, they will kill you. But first they must catch you, digger, listener, runner, prince with the swift warning. Be cunning and full of tricks and your people shall never be destroyed.
  • panthergirl
    panthergirl Posts: 469
    it must depend on the temperature in the room because here (south fla) they light up within 1 second.

    i think they're great... i've noticed a decrease in my electric bill...
    however, with all we see about them in tv and stuff, the fact that definitely should not be thrown into the trash is rarely mentioned.
    it is printed on the package in small print.. but it;s really easy to disregard that info.

    i imagine in a few years when they start burning out and ignorant people start throwing them away and they end up in landfills... we're gonna have a new problem on our hands: severely contaminated water :(
    08 6/11 WPB 6/12 Tampa 6/24,25 MSG, 8/7 Ed @ Newark
    07 8/5 Lolla 8/2 VIC
    06 7/22,23 Gorge 7/20 Ptl
    04 10/8 VFC Kissimmee
    03 4/11 WPB, 4/12 HOB Orlando, 7/8,9 MSG
    00 8/24 Jones Bch 8/9,10 WPB
    1998 9/22,23 WPB 1996 10/7 Ft Laud 1994 3/28 Miami
  • blondieblue227
    blondieblue227 Va, USA Posts: 4,509
    panthergirl wrote:
    i imagine in a few years when they start burning out and ignorant people start throwing them away and they end up in landfills... we're gonna have a new problem on our hands: severely contaminated water :(

    exactlly.
    so are those bulbs really helping at all?
    :(
    *~Pearl Jam will be blasted from speakers until morale improves~*

  • Heineken Helen
    Heineken Helen Posts: 18,095
    transplant wrote:
    yes, they contain mercury.
    If you break one, open all windows and doors and get out of there for a while... when you come back in, spray some water and when it dries sweep it up and put it in a plastic bag.
    The Astoria??? Orgazmic!
    Verona??? it's all surmountable
    Dublin 23.08.06 "The beauty of Ireland, right there!"
    Wembley? We all believe!
    Copenhagen?? your light made us stars
    Chicago 07? And love
    What a different life
    Had I not found this love with you
  • GreenTeaDisease
    GreenTeaDisease Posts: 3,359
    blondieblue227 wrote:
    exactlly.
    so are those bulbs really helping at all?
    :(

    well yes, they do help. if people are responsible enough to buy them, we just have to hope they're responsible enough to throw them away properly.
  • tybird
    tybird Posts: 17,388
    panthergirl wrote:
    it must depend on the temperature in the room because here (south fla) they light up within 1 second.
    You're right...temp does affect fluorescent bulbs of all sizes and shapes.
    All the world will be your enemy, Prince with a thousand enemies, and whenever they catch you, they will kill you. But first they must catch you, digger, listener, runner, prince with the swift warning. Be cunning and full of tricks and your people shall never be destroyed.
  • PearlJamaholic
    PearlJamaholic Posts: 2,019
    anyone know why they dont work with dimmer switches?
    http://db.etree.org/PearlJamaholic
  • tybird
    tybird Posts: 17,388
    PearlJamaholic wrote:
    anyone know why they dont work with dimmer switches?
    Because they don't have filaments.
    All the world will be your enemy, Prince with a thousand enemies, and whenever they catch you, they will kill you. But first they must catch you, digger, listener, runner, prince with the swift warning. Be cunning and full of tricks and your people shall never be destroyed.
  • polaris
    polaris Posts: 3,527
    buy LED lights - you'll be packing them up with your moves ...

Categories