Break A lightbulb?

As they are phasing out old fashioned light bulbs,
(The bulb hoarders)

I think we should all be aware of what to do if you break
a newer greener eco friendly compact fluorescent bulb:

Originally Posted by EPA

What to Do if a Fluorescent Light Bulb Breaks


Fluorescent light bulbs contain a very small amount of mercury sealed within the glass tubing.
EPA recommends the following clean-up and disposal below. Please also read the information on this page about what never to do with a mercury spill.

Before Clean-up: Air Out the Room

* Have people and pets leave the room, and don't let anyone walk through the breakage area on their way out.
* Open a window and leave the room for 15 minutes or more.
* Shut off the central forced-air heating/air conditioning system, if you have one.

Clean-Up Steps for Hard Surfaces

* Carefully scoop up glass pieces and powder using stiff paper or cardboard and place them in a glass jar with metal lid (such as a canning jar) or in a sealed plastic bag.
* Use sticky tape, such as duct tape, to pick up any remaining small glass fragments and powder.
* Wipe the area clean with damp paper towels or disposable wet wipes. Place towels in the glass jar or plastic bag.
* Do not use a vacuum or broom to clean up the broken bulb on hard surfaces.

Clean-up Steps for Carpeting or Rug

* Carefully pick up glass fragments and place them in a glass jar with metal lid (such as a canning jar) or in a sealed plastic bag.
* Use sticky tape, such as duct tape, to pick up any remaining small glass fragments and powder.
* If vacuuming is needed after all visible materials are removed, vacuum the area where the bulb was broken.
* Remove the vacuum bag (or empty and wipe the canister), and put the bag or vacuum debris in a sealed plastic bag.

Clean-up Steps for Clothing, Bedding and Other Soft Materials

* If clothing or bedding materials come in direct contact with broken glass or mercury-containing powder from inside the bulb that may stick to the fabric, the clothing or bedding should be thrown away. Do not wash such clothing or bedding because mercury fragments in the clothing may contaminate the machine and/or pollute sewage.
* You can, however, wash clothing or other materials that have been exposed to the mercury vapor from a broken CFL, such as the clothing you are wearing when you cleaned up the broken CFL, as long as that clothing has not come into direct contact with the materials from the broken bulb.
* If shoes come into direct contact with broken glass or mercury-containing powder from the bulb, wipe them off with damp paper towels or disposable wet wipes. Place the towels or wipes in a glass jar or plastic bag for disposal.

Disposal of Clean-up Materials

* Immediately place all clean-up materials outdoors in a trash container or protected area for the next normal trash pickup.
* Wash your hands after disposing of the jars or plastic bags containing clean-up materials.
* Check with your local or state government about disposal requirements in your specific area. Some states do not allow such trash disposal. Instead, they require that broken and unbroken mercury-containing bulbs be taken to a local recycling center.

Future Cleaning of Carpeting or Rug: Air Out the Room During and After Vacuuming

* The next several times you vacuum, shut off the central forced-air heating/air conditioning system and open a window before vacuuming.
* Keep the central heating/air conditioning system shut off and the window open for at least 15 minutes after vacuuming is completed.

(Source:Spills, Site Cleanup and Disposal | Mercury | US EPA)

I'm off out to buy as many 'normal' bulbs as i can

Originally Posted by rafe005

I'm off out to buy as many 'normal' bulbs as i can

Me too ! This idea of forcing us into using " OAP's " bulbs was mentioned about 2 years ago in an EU directive, had hoped that it had died a death but....

When I moved into this place I changed most light fittings for modern ones using GU5/8 bulb types ( small halogen headlight types ). Anyone care to inform me how to replace these with these " green " light bulbs ? Or am I going to trawl round junk shops to find old light fittings ?

The whole thing is a nonsense driven by PC and it seems that someone is about to make a financial killing. Anyone for buying shares in these companies ? Might fund a few new Alfas very quickly.

I've switched ones that I don't need to come
on immediately or for reading etc.

They should sort out streetlighting first IMHO.

Originally Posted by Nev

I've switched ones that I don't need to come
on immediately or for reading etc.

They should sort out streetlighting first IMHO.

Done the same Nev, hallways and bedrooms as I tend to use more direct lighting for reading/working. Green bulbs are OK for just general lighting, very little else.

Thought I read somewhere of trials to switch street lighting off after a certain time, back to the dark ages for us all ? Dark streets = rising crime - aren't we doing well.

Just off topic. What I hate is these people with poorly set up PIR security lights, constantly coming on and off, why can't they spend half an hour to set up the sensitivity and PIR direction ? No doubt their hallways are full of green wellies and energy saving lamps, nice to see that they are doing their bit.

Sounds very environmentally friendly Wonder what'll happen when the landfills start filling up with them?


Off to stockpile the older kind............................

[quote=Nev;1890924]I've switched ones that I don't need to come
on immediately or for reading etc.

QUOTE]

Not me............my cellar is floodlit with the most powerful bulbs i can find........loads of them

Christ! I didn't realise it was so dangerous to break a green bulb. They should issue them with NBC suits for when you do break one.

This wouldn't be feasible with regular street lighting, but with motorway lighting why don't they have motion sensors? You activate a sensor and it lights up the lamps for half a mile in front of you, then they switch off after you've passed. That way, you're always bathed in light, but the lights aren't burning away with no-one to use them.

I regularly drive up and down the M1 at stupid o'clock, and don't understand why sections are permanently on.

Originally Posted by JimmerUK

Christ! I didn't realise it was so dangerous to break a green bulb. They should issue them with NBC suits for when you do break one.

This wouldn't be feasible with regular street lighting, but with motorway lighting why don't they have motion sensors? You activate a sensor and it lights up the lamps for half a mile in front of you, then they switch off after you've passed. That way, you're always bathed in light, but the lights aren't burning away with no-one to use them.

I regularly drive up and down the M1 at stupid o'clock, and don't understand why sections are permanently on.

Wasnt there an advert where that happened? Doesnt it take a huge amount more energy to initially light up a bulb compared to continual running.

Originally Posted by rafe005

Wasnt there an advert where that happened? Doesnt it take a huge amount more energy to initially light up a bulb compared to continual running.

Dunno about streetlights but Mythbusters busted
that one with domestic lighting.

i've seen mythbusters and as someone who used to do something similar with experiments in the past for work, I wouldnt listen to a thing they say

BTW road lights are fluorescent not incandescent are they not?

Originally Posted by rafe005

Wasnt there an advert where that happened? Doesnt it take a huge amount more energy to initially light up a bulb compared to continual running.

Yip, I think it was a Mercedes advert. I'm not sure what bulbs the Mythbusters that Nev's refering to tested, but I always believed that it was only the strip lighting in kitchens that used up a tonne of energy to start, but hardly anything to maintain a light. That could be an urban myth though.

Going back to street lighting, I think the technology's there to make greener street lights. They don't have to power on straight away for the motion sensor thing to work, just so long as they're fully on in time.

Originally Posted by JimmerUK

. I'm not sure what bulbs the Mythbusters that Nev's refering to tested, but I always believed that it was only the strip lighting in kitchens that used up a tonne of energy to start, but hardly anything to maintain a light. That could be an urban myth though.

.

I'll do some tests tonight and find out what the draw is during start up over continual running for a strip light (of which i have loads in the cellar )


p.s only have loads cos thats where i do prep and paint work for my sprint

Originally Posted by rafe005

p.s only have loads cos thats where i do prep and paint work for my sprint

and make lightsabers

Originally Posted by JimmerUK

and make lightsabers

SHHHHHH the mrs sometimes hijacks my account if she gets bored and I dont want her knowing that i actually have fun down there

Originally Posted by rafe005

I'll do some tests tonight and find out what the draw is during start up over continual running for a strip light (of which i have loads in the cellar )

Betcha it's negligible.

Originally Posted by Nev

Betcha it's negligible.

Probably, but i will feel loads better if I can get actual figures to prove the theory wrong rather than a pair of model makers from america with really dodgy facial hair

When I moved into this place I changed most light fittings for modern ones using GU5/8 bulb types ( small halogen headlight types ). Anyone care to inform me how to replace these with these " green " light bulbs ? Or am I going to trawl round junk shops to find old light fittings ?

It is now possible to get low energy spot lamps

Originally Posted by alfabay

It is now possible to get low energy spot lamps

LEDs are starting to be pretty good.