Doing the Light Switch
July 6, 2008
Ok, so I finally gave in.
Even though I’ve already been recognized as “Green Approved” because of my voting record, today I finally decided to “do my part” at home and save some money and maybe in turn, help the environment. (Ok, so it was more my wife’s idea than mine.)
As you know, I’m tight with money so the thought of saving a few dollars got my attention more so than “offsetting my carbon footprint”. Sadly, when I say a FEW dollars – it appears just that. Per the double-asterisks on the box I bought today at Lowe’s, I should save $37.00 over the LIFE of the bulb compared to using a 60 watt “standard” bulb. Since these bulbs are supposed to last SEVEN YEARS, that’s MAYBE ONLY $5 a year in savings or roughly only 40 cents a month. Still, better than nothing, I guess. Of course, then you look at the difference on the cost of this CFL bulb v. how many “normal” bulbs I would buy over 7 years…who knows? And then, I learn there’s mercury in these bulbs! So I’m thinking….am I really doing any good here – environmentally or economically? But I digress…
“The feeling” hit me awhile back when a young lady spoke at the Ballentine Dutch Fork Civic Association but it soon passed before I took any action.
I’ve also had the “Do the Light Switch” box sitting in the garage for a few months (thanks, Mid Carolina Electric Cooperative ) but not until today at Lowe’s did I finally really make some changes.
Sure, we had changed ONE light bulb in my son’s closet to this “new” CFL bulb (compact fluorescent, I’ve come to learn) about two months ago but today, when my wife bought us a new light fixture above our kitchen table, we decided to use all CFLs in it – and in the rest of the kitchen too.
Yes, I know. Al Gore probably isn’t doing cartwheels about this small change but I’m at least making an effort.
What about you? Anyone made changes?
Comments
8 Responses to “Doing the Light Switch”
Got something to say?
Home Depot will take used CFL bulbs and recycle them. That takes care of the mercury issues. We went to CFLs in lights that needed a ladder to replace. They’re just wearing out – five years later. I think the new CFL bulbs will last even longer. The CFL bulbs are better both environmentally and economically. The LED ones that are starting to come out may be even better.
We’re paying a little extra ($4/month) to PaCE with our utility bill (Palmetto Clean Energy). It supports renewable energy sources.
We also bought a rain barrel and set it up to catch rainwater from our gutters. We’re using that to water our garden. I plan to get another one that we can use to water our lawn this week. Got the barrel at Hiller Hardware in Five Points. Great service there as well.
Great to know that people are starting to take steps, even small ones!! I was looking at alternatives to the CFL’s, just because of the mercury and found these:
http://www.solux.net/cgi-bin/tlistore/infopages/index.html
They do’nt contain mercury, are very effecient, and are a more natural light color. Though, they are a bit more expensive, so CFL’s seem to be good if they’re disposed of properly.
My family also just got a rain barrel we are using to water the garden, which I think is a great idea! Keep up the good work Ballentine/Irmo!!
I was once a huge supporter of these bulbs just because of the savings in your energy bill and fewer replacements, but then I read this article:
http://hotair.com/archives/2008/03/19/green-shock-cfls-more-dangerous-than-first-thought/
Now, if Dana is correct, the disposal issue has been taken care of which was one of my biggest concerns but I do feel that everyone should be aware that these bulbs are basically a toxic hazard if they are broken.
The article above gives you the multistage (and rather labor intensive) instructions for how to safely clean up a broken bulb.
Anyways, just thought I should let you know. Hope your summer is progressing well.
-Jonathan Williams
Carly, Jonathan,
You’ve ruined my “high” from trying to do the “right thing”. Hopefully Dana is correct and I can take them to Home Depot.
Last night my wife actually broke a CFL and I’ll admit I kinda “freaked out” at what may have happened – mercury in air, carpet, etc.
I put all the broken pieces in a sandwich bag. Sealed it. Put it in a plastic grocery bag. Tied it. Took it to garbage. Probably did that wrong to.
Man, this environmental-stuff is tuff!
Keep on coming back to the site and stay in touch,
Nathan
I, too, tried to do the right thing and bought some of these bulbs. I have regretted it ever since. I ended up breaking one and got very worried about the mercury in them. There were many tiny pieces and I know I didn’t get everything up.
Several weeks ago I was watching tv and listened to a congressman (I’m sorry but I can’t remember who) give a very detailed speech before Congress about these bulbs. He obviously had done a lot of research. Not only do they contain mercury and can present a health issue if broken and are hard to dispose of, they are very costly compared to our regular light bulbs, and they are also ONLY made in China. I have already been making a concerted effort not to buy items made in China and to buy USA made items only as much as I can.
So, I will continue using the regular light bulbs and try to turn them off when not needed to conserve energy. Plus, I am doing my part to help our economy and not China’s!
With our latest coal cost projections we received just last week, our rates are going to increase by somewhere around 17% very soon (with the next coal shipments)!!! Coal is a commodity and just another hit we are all taking with steadly increasing prices. The problem with the coal projections is they are to increase by the same 50% for the next three consecutive years!! We will be sending our as much information to our members as possible to warn they!!!
Nathan,
We did the same thing about 3 months ago. I am very frustrated by the fact that these bulbs contain mercury and if you read the EPA website, if they are broken, they are very hazardous, much like has been talked about.
First off, I have no idea why “we” as a country would be pushing something that is dangerous to our children. Both my girls have these bulbs in their lamps. How easily they could be broken and then they might try to clean it up. It is very troubling to know that while it is easy to find articles, billboards and print ads about the benefits of changing your bulbs out, I have yet to see much on the hazardous condition.
This issue is very big and it is so terrible that there is such a lack of knowledge out there.
We have been living with mercury in our everyday lives for a long time! Think of the regular fluorescent lamps in your kitchen or over your workbench. Think of the bright mercury lights in the football stadium. The mercury in these compact fluorescent lamps is pretty much negligible in comparison.
Also, coal is nature’s garbage dump and contains traces of mercury also. If we burn more coal to light our inefficient hot wire lamps, then we are also adding more mercury to the environment, as well as huge volumes of CO2. Anything that saves energy of any type, or discharges less waste is good for the environment .
Let’s not get trapped again by ignorant scare-mongers like we did regarding nuclear power. We simply need to manage the dangers, because nothing is ever completely safe. I’m old enough still to remember my grandmother insisting that every socket have a light bulb in it so that “the pesky electricity wouldn’t leak out and kill her in her sleep”; she had been accustomed to gas lights where leakage was a very real problem and sometimes did kill people in their sleep. Nothing is ever as constant as change!