Digeo Kitchen & Bath Blog

About mercury in fluorescent lights

Lighting accounts for close to 10 percent of the average home’s electric bill. ENERGY STAR qualified CFL’s use up to 75 percent less energy (electricity) than incandescent light bulbs, last up to 10 times longer, cost little up front, and provide a quick return on investment.

One downside to fluorescent lights is that they contain mercury. That mercury content is dwarfed, however, by the amount of mercury emissions from coal-burning power plants.So even though the the fluorescent lights themselves contain mercury ,using them actually reduces mercury releases in the environment because it reduces demand for electricity from power plants.As a  green kitchen and bath professional and father of autistic boy ( mercury is neurotoxin, one of the most poisonous metals and blamed as a cause of many brain disorders including autism) I would like to provide information how to handle broken CFL had where to dispose them.

What precautions should I take when using CFLs in my home?
CFLs are made of glass and can break if dropped or roughly handled. Be careful when removing the bulb from its packaging, installing it, or replacing it. Always screw and unscrew the light bulb by its base (not the glass), and never forcefully twist the CFL into a light socket. If a CFL breaks in your home, follow the cleanup recommendations below.  Used CFLs should be disposed of properly (see below).

What is the proper way to handle a broken CFL?
Open the windows and let the room air out for 15 to 30 minutes, then remove as much material as possible.  Do not use  vacuum cleaner. Using disposable gloves, scoop the glass onto a piece of cardboard and wipe the area with a wet paper towel. For smaller pieces of glass and powder, use duct tape to pull up the fragments and wash your hands after cleaning up the debris.

What is the proper method to dispose a CFL?
Do not throw spent fluorescent lamps in the trash or recycle bin.
Check if your local recycling center has services available for CFL disposal by calling directly or by visiting Earth 911. Plus retail giants as IKEA recycled 156,301 pounds of CFLs in its 2010 fiscal year with its “Free Take Back” recycling program that puts a collection bin in each store.

Written by Lazar Dimitrov 

Full-time Kitchen & Bath Remodeler specializing in developing healthy and eco-friendly remodeling solutions http://digeokitchens.com/

    Welcome to Digeo Kitchen & Bath Green Blog. This site’s goal is to expand the knowledge  and to inspire people so your next home improvement project is a green one. Green building  or green remodeling is quite simply an improvement of conventional practices with an emphasis on energy efficiency, conserving natural resources and creating a healthy home.

But even if you are not ready for total immersion there are dozens of small solutions that will contribute to a healthier planet: simple actions like installing a low-flow aerator on the faucet, or replacing incandescent light bulbs with energy-saving fluorescents or LED lights, and once you are in a habit of taking small steps,larger actions such a choosing certified wood, recycled content products, or high performance windows will come more easily.

    Our work has just begun and we would love to hear from you with ideas and opinions about how this site can help spreading the “green” among fellow bloggers and webmasters.

Written by Lazar Dimitrov 

Full-time Kitchen & Bath Remodeler specializing in developing healthy and eco-friendly remodeling solutions http://digeokitchens.com/