Using compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) are a smart way to do something wonderful for the planet. CFLs use 75 percent less energy than do traditional incandescent bulbs. You should definitely replace any high use light bulbs with CFLs, such as porch or driveway lights, kitchen or living room lights, etc. The cost of CFLs has gone down quite a bit, making them comparable to the incandescent. That means you won’t first have to invest a lot of money to save on your energy costs.
The downside to CFLs is that they contain trace amounts of mercury. This mercury can be harmful for both animals and humans. The mercury can leach out of the CFLs and into the earth or water, if the CFLs are just tossed away into landfills after they burn out.
It is important to treat CFLs as a hazardous waste and dispose of them properly. You will need to find a recycling program in your area that will accept CFLs. One such place is IKEA. This store will gladly take your CFLs and send them off to be properly recycled. You can also find other local and safe disposal programs by visiting the Environmental Protection Agency of the U.S. Government’s website on bulb recycling. Just visit http://epa.gov/bulbrecycling. Click on your home state for a list of local CFL recycling options.
I cringe remembering how we disposed of broken thermometers when I was a kid. Traditional mercury thermometers have, well, mercury in them. When one would break from being dropped, I was told sternly not to touch it. My father or mother would use a pencil to roll the little balls of mercury together into one larger ball, and then the whole thing would be thrown in the regular trash. Now at least, we can learn better disposal guidelines for household objects that contain mercury.
Mary Ann Romans writes about everything related to saving money in the Frugal Blog, technology in the Computing Blog, and creating a home in the Home Blog. Starting June 1st, don’t miss her articles in the Baby Blog. You can read more of her articles by clicking here.
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