http://www.takepart.com/article/201...ic-epa-rules-finally-combat-deadly-neurotoxin So on one hand they are regulating to remove mercury vapors from coal plants. On the other hand, they regulate to take away the 100% safe incandescent light bulbs from our homes and replace them with bulbs containing.... what is it kids?? YES!!!! Mercury Vapor!!!! ding ding ding
The mercury scare in CFLs, IMHO, is highly overrated. I don't understand why rational people are scared of it. I have been using CFLs for about 5 yrs. Haven't broken one yet, and I recycle them at Lowe's. No mercury in the atmosphere from them. They aren't nearly as fragile as incandescents.
Maybe because the EPA has issued a long document stating what you have to do if one breaks and how to dispose of it. Wear a mask, put it into a special bag after you sweep it up, wear gloves, wash your hands etc. BTW- you do know you can't throw those bulbs away in your regular trash right?
F***, it's just a light bulb. Now I have to download a PDF instruction manual to operate it properly. This country is going insane.
Arrest me! Or better yet, don't force me to buy stupid sh1t that requires a hazmat team to dispose of. Keep your laws off my lighting.
Yes, I recycle them at Lowes. Only have had to do that to 3 in the 5 yrs I've been buying them. Haven't broken one yet--they are much more durable than incandescents (made of thicker glass). If you get your electricity by coal burning, EVEN if you break the bulb, less mercury is released to the atmosphere than that produced by burning coal to make the electricity to power the incandescent.
Doesn't require a hazmat team. Just have to drop it off at Lowes or Home Depot who recycle the things. I'm at Lowes at least once a week anyway. Do agree that incandescents shouldn't be banned. People have the right to waste electricity with them. CFLs are the logical choice if you live in the Sunbelt.
Just go to Lowes or Home Depot. Also some Ace and True Value hardware stores, Ikea, and some local chains.
That isn't as big of a risk as is the airborne mercury the power plant is making you breath. Again, I have about 30 CFLs in the house. Haven't broken one yet.
Mother nature does a pretty good job of cleaning the air. Having the government make me buy something that's dangerous over something that is safe (no matter how clumsy or not you are) - is unacceptable. I refuse to make a special trip to "dispose of properly". If they want them disposed of properly after forcing me to purchase them, they can come get them. Until then, I will throw them away like I do the rest of my trash.
You need to lay off the Fox News friend. http://www.lightingfacts.com/downloads/EISA_FAQ.pdf incadecents are not banned. taa-daa! http://www.bulbrite.com/products_en_7_175_611_0_0-A19.php and these EISA 2007 compliant incadescents
Congress has definitely started down that road and made it clear of their intentions. It is only from harsh criticism that we have gotten a small reprieve. Thanks to the EPA standards published in 2007, the majority of bulb manufacturers have already spent millions retooling to accommodate for the change. Congress taking away the funds to enforce the ban is too little, too late.
you're right. the factories that made incadescents where retooled to make better incadescents. It's very tragic
No, they were closed and the plants moved to China. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/09/07/AR2010090706933.html
Don't let the fact that you were completely wrong divert your argument, the gubmint's after your lightbulbs, even if they're not!
Then why can't I eat large king mackerel safely anymore? The mercury in the atmosphere does go somewhere--the oceans, where it bioaccumulates in the larger predators (which are the best tasting fish). I agree with that, in terms of law. In terms of practicality, CFLs are better. I took them up voluntarily, and think the law is overreaching (i.e. the fed don't have the legitimate power to regulate such things). However, anybody in the Sunbelt that doesn't use CFLs is just wasteful and stupid. What special trip? I just take them when I'm going to Lowes anyway. Keep the burned out ones in a bucket in the garage until then. Do the same with the conventional fluorescent lights I use, too. People like you are the reasons we have laws like that. Use common sense, not stubbornness to make decisions. It's common sense to not want excess mercury in the landfill that is probably within 50 miles of your house. It takes almost no extra energy on your part to recycle the bulbs. Are you handicapped or something? That's the only reason I can see for thinking that's a big deal.
The special trip is just that. I don't go to Lowes on any type of regular basis. I sure as hell don't want to carry a bag of bulbs in my car for months until I do. People like you are the reason government continues stepping on us more and more. Regulating us to hell and back. I don't care if CFL are more energy efficient. The government needs to get the hell out of the way and let the consumers dictate what manufacturers should make. A $.30 light bulb serves me fine, don't tell me I need to buy a $4.00 light bulb because it will cost me less in the long run. Let manufacturers offer alternatives and let consumers buy them if they want. LED bulbs are a good example. Companies are making them, they are expensive. But just like microwave ovens were outrageously expensive when they first came out, people liked them, demand grew and manufacturing costs shrunk with high demand and better technology. Now everyone has one. LED bulbs will come down in price as well. That's an example of consumers driving a product, not being forced upon one.
