[RE-wrenches] CFL lighting and the mercury hazzard.

[Joel Davidson]

Some more added thoughts. I am all for reducing lighting electrical consumption, but only if the "improvement" is somehow better, faster, cheaper. Almost all CFLs have poor light quality and take time to brighten up to full intensity. Also, if you don't like mercury, then thank the Bush administration for changing the Clean Air Act mercury limit from 5 tons to 26 tons per year for power plants. Sleaze like that travels all the way up and down the mercury supply line.
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Peter Parrish 
  To: 'RE-wrenches' 
  Sent: Tuesday, December 09, 2008 12:09 PM
  Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] CFL lighting and the mercury hazzard.


  Carl is correct. I would add two thoughts. We have been buying CFLs from Home Depot, Ikea and we have been getting freebies from the Los Angels Department of Water and Power. Both the Ikea and freebies fail in 1-2 years, so the story about 5-7 years life is a WAG. Second, let's all hold our collective breath: LEDs will rule the illumination market fairly soon just as they have conquered the indication market for many years now. It would be great if anyone has accumulated some lifetime statistics on LED lighting. 



  - Peter



  Peter T. Parrish, Ph.D., President
  California Solar Engineering, Inc.
  820 Cynthia Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90065
  Ph 323-258-8883, Mobile 323-839-6108, Fax 323-258-8885
  CA Lic. 854779, NABCEP Cert. 031806-26
  peter.parrish at calsolareng.com 


------------------------------------------------------------------------------

  From: re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org [mailto:re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org] On Behalf Of Carl Emerson
  Sent: Tuesday, December 09, 2008 11:58 AM
  To: 'RE-wrenches'
  Subject: [RE-wrenches] CFL lighting and the mercury hazzard.



  Hi there,



  We have for years been advocating the use of energy efficient Compact Fluorescent Lighting (CFL) to reduce loads and reduce system cost.



  A recent study by DEP in Maine has raised the alarm about mercury poisoning form these bulbs. If there is a breakage the resulting levels of mercury on the floor of the house are well above acceptable limits. Secondly there seems to be little serious effort to safely recycle these bulbs in a manner that keeps the mercury out of the eco system.



  I understand that LED lamps are mercury free. This would seem to be a much safer alternative.



  While many of us have mercury amalgams in our mouth the mercury is supposedly in a form that is not significantly ingested, whereas the mercury in a CFL is in vapour form when hot and powder form when cold, and therefore can pose a hazard to health. 



  Can I suggest some discussion on this and can we do our best to keep it scientific, I don't mean to spread emotional alarm without due cause.



  Thanks,



  Carl Emerson

  Free Power Ltd.

  Auckland N.Z.



------------------------------------------------------------------------------


  _______________________________________________
  List sponsored by Home Power magazine

  List Address: RE-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org

  Options & settings:
  http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org

  List-Archive: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org

  List rules & etiquette:
  www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm

  Check out participant bios:
  www.members.re-wrenches.org

-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org/attachments/20081209/c7e42195/attachment-0003.html>