Earth-Friendly Tech Tips

cfl's are fine but now coming into the market are led's which use only a 1/3rd. what cfl's use, and if you really want to experiment, try using solar landscape lights instead of cfl's i buy them from lowes, or home depot, cost about 44.00 malibu, 3 spot light type, mount the solar panel in a window anywhere's north, south west east, just needs sunlight, and not direct although best direct, mount lights where needed the most, like over a sink, or in the bathroom, or your fav. reading spot, they automatically come on at dusk or just before dusk, stay lit all night, on a full charge, save so much elect. i drop my electric from 200 mth to 125.00 just in these lights, and try using the solar table lamps at home depot, have to take out doors or angle out a window, my entire house now is solar lights, i can't afford to go out and buy solar panels, but the money i'm saving soon i will .

WHAT A MYTH THE CFL LIGHT BULBS ARE - THEY BECOME A HUGE HEALTH HAZZARD WHEN THEY BREAK (AND THEY WILL BEFORE THEY GET TO THE DUMP). DUE TO THE TERRIBLE DANGER OF MERCURY POISONING, THE INSTRUCTIONS HAVE YOU OPEN WINDOWS AND STAY OUT OF THE ROOM UNTIL IT IS AIRED OUT. YOU MUST USE A SPECIAL WAY TO SWEEP INTO A CONTAINER AND DISPOSE OF IT AS HAZARDOUS WASTE. AS WITH MANY OTHER OF THE THINGS THAT WILL BE FORCED UPON US IN THE NAME OF A CLEANER ENVIRONMENT, WE MIGHT NOT SURVIVE THEIR IMPLEMENTATION.

CFL's contain mercury, which is highly toxic. Do you realize that when the dentist removes old amalgams from your teeth (which contain mercury), he must dispose of it as hazardous waste? Even though it's been residing in your mouth? If a CFL breaks, its clean-up must be handled in a specific manner to protect those in the area from being exposed to the mercury and its fumes.

Until they come up with something else that's equally as energy-efficient without being a toxic waste hazard, I WILL NOT BUY CFLs.

I am slowly installing compact flourescent bulbs in my house and I feel that the time it takes for them to give out light will become a safety issue for homeowners. Even the bulbs that are marketed for a quicker response are slow to give much light.

I switched all my lamps to the flourescents about 2 years ago and I haven't noticed any change in my electric bill. If anything my bill is higher. One of two things is happening: 1)Either the flourescents aren't as energy efficient as they are supposed to be or 2) the utility company is screwing me.

ALL OF THIS ENVIORMENTAL GREEN SHIT IS JUST A NEW WAY TO TAX US, THE NEW LIGHT BULBS ARE ONLY MADE IN CHINA.

I BUILT A NEW HOME IN 1995 THAT HAS MANY MANY LIGHTS AND ON MY ELECTRICIANS ADVICE HAVE ONLY INSTALLED GE FLOOD LIGHTS THROUGHOUT THE HOUSE AND IN ALL OF THAT TIME HAVE ONLY REPLACED ABOUT 10 OF 70 BULBS.

THE ENVIRONMENTAL WACKOS ARE SCREWING YOU

AL Gore has got a lot right, but he's wrong about CFLs.

Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs are environmentally toxic for two reasons.

Many people are learning that CFL's contain Mercury, but few American's know that they emit both UV and RF radiation and contribute to elevated levels of electromagnetic and RF fields in the buildings in which they are used (known as "dirty electricity"). Studies indicate the adverse biological effects of high EMF -there is a recent study by Milham concerning a California school and cancer.

New Zealand recently recinded its ban on incandescent bulbs.

The new proposed Clean Energy and Security Bill being proposed in the House provides for the use of CFLs. Congress should be pushing for funds to further develop the environmentally clean LEDs for residential use and not mandate Americans use CFLs.

Michael you are absolutely correct. See my post below about the toxic truth about CFLs.

Mercury products like thermometers have been banned and yet CFL's are being promoted.

Energy conservation should include turning off lights at night and not using unneccessary lighting like outside Christmas lights. We need to get real about electricity conservation. It is stupid to use CFLs and then still not conserve electricity. We have all kinds of 60 Hertz gadgets that we do not need to use, like electric can openers. Think about the energy conservation that could take place if we stopped using many of our gadgets.

The EPA has a list that outlines the procedures one should follow to clean up a broken CFL which includes opening windows and vacating the areas for 30 minutes. Check it out. I plan to hoard incandescent bulbs.

You guys couldnt put these on one page?

While flourescents DO save energy and thus money, there is a serious darkside to them...

They are TOXIC !!!

recicling trush:biodegradable trush,metal,aluminium, plastic,glass,use water,solar and wind energie,more trains for the comun transportation.The cars can works with the solar batteries(we have here a lot of sun here.The sun,the wind,the tide water is a real source of energie.Bio degradable trush can offer calloric energie too.In the stores introduce cotton bags,not more one time plastic bags(this is oil too).Educate correctly the students in school,beginning with kindergarden to learn how important is to protect the natur.The industrie must have special filters to retaine the noxe.No more chemicals to kill the dandy lion and other:all of this will go in the soil,in the water. Make economie to using water,a lot of people in Africa South America they don't have water.The same in Europe,the people make economie of the water and are conscieus abauthow they can protect the naturWe all must do something we have this obligation for our children and for theire future.All of this is in our hands and we must do it.We all must think about....Please,do it

Here's a great place for CFLs, LEDs, etc, as well as water consrvation products: http://eartheasy.com/shop/lighting.htm

Great selection, but not too big to be confusing.