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Gun Grape · 04-09-2007, 23:04 PM

I voted no.

Mentioned in another thread was the fact that many/most places in the US are not set up to dispose of hazmat.

SO if your county/waste management people use an incinerator all that mercury is going into the air. Unlike that coal power plant that uses stack scrubbers to catch it.

If they are using a landfill, its going into your watertable.

IronDuke, I'm assuming that you specificly meant Compact Fluorescent Lights(CFL), vice ths standard 4 foot models. The mercury in standard 4 foot models are much higher. Since the mercury content was reduced in 1994 the Avg 4 foot t-12 light has 22.8 milligrams of mercury. (use to be around 45) If you figure 2 or 4 per fixture, they are not as "Green" as we are led to believe.

CFLs have a few problems, some can interfear with electronic equipment, and especially with remote devices that use infrared.

They cannot be used in recessed light fixtures.

The "long Life" only applies if they are installed with the Ballast down, like a floor lamp, Installed any other way will shorten the bulb life due to the ballast
overheating.

There are special precautions that you should take if a lamp breaks in your house. Sweep the glass up, never vacume, Open windows to vent the room, place broken peaces in a sealed bag and wipe the area with a damp paper towel that you also seal in a bag before disposing at your recycling/hasmat site.

Rusty you are close to being right about dimmer switches. Floresents will not work with a normal dimmer switch, In fact it can cause a fire if you try. However they do make Florescent dimmers, which only work with certain brands, and if using CFLs they cannot be used on a circuit that also has regular bulbs. None will work with old school mechanical/mag ballast.

Also cannot use timers or photocells with CFL.

Now as for dimmers, a good dimmer switch will cost you about $20.00,
A dimmer for regular Florescent bulbs runs around $150.00.
If you buy the "Dimmable" CFLs a low cost dimmer runs about $45.00.
And you have to match the dimmer with the bulb manufacturer.

04-09-2007, 23:04 PM	#14 (permalink)
Gun Grape Resident Curmudgeon *Military Professional* Join Date: 03-12-05 Location: Panama City Fl Posts: 2,716	I voted no. Mentioned in another thread was the fact that many/most places in the US are not set up to dispose of hazmat. SO if your county/waste management people use an incinerator all that mercury is going into the air. Unlike that coal power plant that uses stack scrubbers to catch it. If they are using a landfill, its going into your watertable. IronDuke, I'm assuming that you specificly meant Compact Fluorescent Lights(CFL), vice ths standard 4 foot models. The mercury in standard 4 foot models are much higher. Since the mercury content was reduced in 1994 the Avg 4 foot t-12 light has 22.8 milligrams of mercury. (use to be around 45) If you figure 2 or 4 per fixture, they are not as "Green" as we are led to believe. CFLs have a few problems, some can interfear with electronic equipment, and especially with remote devices that use infrared. They cannot be used in recessed light fixtures. The "long Life" only applies if they are installed with the Ballast down, like a floor lamp, Installed any other way will shorten the bulb life due to the ballast overheating. There are special precautions that you should take if a lamp breaks in your house. Sweep the glass up, never vacume, Open windows to vent the room, place broken peaces in a sealed bag and wipe the area with a damp paper towel that you also seal in a bag before disposing at your recycling/hasmat site. Rusty you are close to being right about dimmer switches. Floresents will not work with a normal dimmer switch, In fact it can cause a fire if you try. However they do make Florescent dimmers, which only work with certain brands, and if using CFLs they cannot be used on a circuit that also has regular bulbs. None will work with old school mechanical/mag ballast. Also cannot use timers or photocells with CFL. Now as for dimmers, a good dimmer switch will cost you about $20.00, A dimmer for regular Florescent bulbs runs around $150.00. If you buy the "Dimmable" CFLs a low cost dimmer runs about $45.00. And you have to match the dimmer with the bulb manufacturer.