Are fluorescents Are fluorescents lights as green as lights as green as the skeptics say the skeptics say they are? And if they they are? And if they aren't which light to aren't which light to buy if you want to buy if you want to go green.go green.

Are fluorescents lights as Are fluorescents lights as green as the skeptics say green as the skeptics say they are?they are?

True fluorescents lights use less energy then True fluorescents lights use less energy then the incandescent light bulbs. They also don’t the incandescent light bulbs. They also don’t git as hot as the incandescent lights.git as hot as the incandescent lights.

But that is not all they can do for the But that is not all they can do for the environment. They can also kill it more then environment. They can also kill it more then the incandescent lights.the incandescent lights.

Truth about Truth about fluorescence fluorescence

Fluorescent lights contain a small amount of Fluorescent lights contain a small amount of mercury, which is a extremely toxic element. mercury, which is a extremely toxic element.

Now you might be thinking it is just a small Now you might be thinking it is just a small amount, so what. Let’s do a little math then. amount, so what. Let’s do a little math then. Say there are about 40 fluorescent lights in Say there are about 40 fluorescent lights in your house, then multiply that by about your house, then multiply that by about 90,000,000 houses in the us. Suddenly that 90,000,000 houses in the us. Suddenly that small amount turns into a vary large amount. small amount turns into a vary large amount.

Maine’s law Maine’s law about about fluorescent fluorescent lightslights

Do not use a vacuum cleaner to clean up the breakage. This will Do not use a vacuum cleaner to clean up the breakage. This will spread the mercury vapor and dust throughout the area and spread the mercury vapor and dust throughout the area and could potentially contaminate the vacuum.could potentially contaminate the vacuum.

Keep people and pets away from the breakage area until the Keep people and pets away from the breakage area until the cleanup is complete.cleanup is complete.

Ventilate the area by opening windows, and leave the area for Ventilate the area by opening windows, and leave the area for 15 minutes before returning to begin the cleanup. Mercury vapor 15 minutes before returning to begin the cleanup. Mercury vapor levels will be lower by then.levels will be lower by then.

Maine’s precautions Maine’s precautions about fluorescent about fluorescent lightslights

For maximum protection and if you have them, wear rubber gloves to protect your hands from the sharp glass.

Carefully remove the larger pieces and place them in a secure Carefully remove the larger pieces and place them in a secure closed container, preferably a glass container with a metal screw closed container, preferably a glass container with a metal screw top lid and seal like a canning jar. A glass jar with a good seal top lid and seal like a canning jar. A glass jar with a good seal works best to contain any mercury vapors inside.works best to contain any mercury vapors inside.

Next, begin collecting the smaller pieces and dust. You can use Next, begin collecting the smaller pieces and dust. You can use two stiff pieces of paper such as index cards or playing cards to two stiff pieces of paper such as index cards or playing cards to scoop up pieces.scoop up pieces.

Maine’s precautions Maine’s precautions about fluorescent about fluorescent lightslights

Pat the area with the sticky side of duct tape, packing tape or Pat the area with the sticky side of duct tape, packing tape or masking tape to pick up fine particles. Wipe the area with a wet masking tape to pick up fine particles. Wipe the area with a wet wipe or damp paper towel to pick up even finer particles.wipe or damp paper towel to pick up even finer particles.

Put all waste and materials into the glass container, including all Put all waste and materials into the glass container, including all material used in the cleanup that may have been contaminated material used in the cleanup that may have been contaminated with mercury. Label the container as “Universal Waste - broken with mercury. Label the container as “Universal Waste - broken lamp.”lamp.”

Remove the container with the breakage and cleanup materials Remove the container with the breakage and cleanup materials from your home. This is particularly important if you do not have from your home. This is particularly important if you do not have a glass container.a glass container.

Maine’s precautions Maine’s precautions about fluorescent about fluorescent lightslights

Continue ventilating the room for several hours.Continue ventilating the room for several hours.

Wash your hands and face.Wash your hands and face.

Take the glass container with the waste material to a facility that Take the glass container with the waste material to a facility that accepts “universal waste” for recycling. To determine where accepts “universal waste” for recycling. To determine where your municipality has made arrangements for recycling of this your municipality has made arrangements for recycling of this type of waste, call your municipal office or find your town in this type of waste, call your municipal office or find your town in this list list municipal collection sitesmunicipal collection sites

Maine’s precautions Maine’s precautions about fluorescent about fluorescent lightslights

When a break happens on carpeting, homeowners may consider removing throw rugs or the area of carpet where the breakage occurred as a precaution, particularly if the rug is in an area frequented by infants, small children or pregnant women.

Finally, if the carpet is not removed, open the window to the Finally, if the carpet is not removed, open the window to the room during the next several times you vacuum the carpet to room during the next several times you vacuum the carpet to provide good ventilation.provide good ventilation.

So you see Fluorescent lights are So you see Fluorescent lights are not “green”, in fact they are not “green”, in fact they are WORSEWORSE for the environment then for the environment then incandescence.incandescence.

But there are still people that want But there are still people that want to “go green”, so what are they to “go green”, so what are they suppose to buy? suppose to buy?

LEDs!!!LEDs!!!!!

LEDs are the only way LEDs are the only way to go to go green. green.

leds use about 90% less energy then leds use about 90% less energy then fluorescent and incandescent lights.fluorescent and incandescent lights.

They never git hot, so you don’t have to worry They never git hot, so you don’t have to worry about house fires.about house fires.

They can git up to about 100,000 hours before They can git up to about 100,000 hours before they burn up.(That equal about 20 years.)they burn up.(That equal about 20 years.)

LEDs are the only way LEDs are the only way to go to go green. green.

The only drawback to leds is since they are The only drawback to leds is since they are new technology, they can range anywhere new technology, they can range anywhere from from

Which light to buy Which light to buy

Incandescent lights are cheap, but they only Incandescent lights are cheap, but they only last about one year.last about one year.

Fluorescent lights are a bit more expensive and Fluorescent lights are a bit more expensive and last about 5 years, but they hurt the last about 5 years, but they hurt the environment more because of mercury. environment more because of mercury.

LEDs use 90% less energy than both the other LEDs use 90% less energy than both the other lights. But since than are new technology they lights. But since than are new technology they are expensive.are expensive.

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http://home.howstuffworks.com/fluorescent-lamp2.htmhttp://home.howstuffworks.com/fluorescent-lamp2.htm “ “How Fluorescent Lamps Work.” N.p N.d web February 10 2010

http://.www.%20howstuffworks.com/led.htm “how leds work.” N.p N.d web February 10 2010

http://www.carolinaleds.com/ledfacts7benefits.html “facts and benefits” N.p N.d web February 10 2010

http://www.maine.gov/dep/rwm/homeowner/cflbreakcleanup.htm “What if I accidentally break a fluorescent lamp in my house?” N.p N.d web February 8 2010