Green lighting, at a price.

Midnyte_Ragebringer · Post by **Midnyte_Ragebringer** » June 11, 2008, 3:31 pm

TIP FOR RECYCLING YOUR LIGHTBULBS: CFLs contain a small amount of mercury and should be disposed of properly — ideally, recycled. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, CFLs contain an average of five milligrams of mercury, which increases the bulb's efficiency. But that also means you can't just trash them; CFLs must be properly recycled. Ikea is one national retailer with a recycling center in their stores to take old CFL bulbs back for recycling. Also, visit EARTH911.org and type in "CFL" and your city/state to find a recycling center near you.

Potentially poisonous

Mercury is key to making compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) efficient. Electricity sent through the lamp, which contains mercury vapor and an inert gas such as argon, zaps the mercury, setting off a reaction that creates light. The reaction is more efficient at converting power into light, with less residual heat than a normal incandescent bulb.

Each CFL contains about 5 milligrams of mercury, just enough to cover the tip of a ballpoint pen. By contrast, a mercury thermometer contains 500 milligrams of mercury.

The silvery substance can be dangerous even in small quantities, though, because it can be inhaled or absorbed through the skin, and it damages the central nervous system.

Small amounts can also build up in the environment if the bulbs are thrown in the garbage and break or are incinerated. Mercury can enter the food chain and accumulate, for example, when big fish eat smaller fish that contain mercury, as is already the case with tuna and other large fish.

No big deal. Our socialized healthcare system will take care of this I'm sure. The ends justify the means I guess. Well, they do for this cause, but not for the Patriot Act or Iraq or anything of real substance and importance. For unproveable, faith based, faux crisis' it's okay. I get it.

miir · Post by **miir** » June 11, 2008, 3:55 pm

I love quotes taken out of context....

From the same article

How much mercury do power plants emit to light a CFL?

About 50 percent of the electricity produced in the U.S. is generated by coal-fired power plants. When coal burns to produce electricity, mercury naturally contained in the coal releases into the air. In 2006, coal-fired power plants produced 1,971 billion kilowatt hours (kwh) of electricity, emitting 50.7 tons of mercury into the air—the equivalent amount of mercury contained in more than 9 billion CFLs (the bulbs emit zero mercury when in use or being handled).

Approximately 0.0234 mg of mercury—plus carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide—releases into the air per 1 kwh of electricity that a coal-fired power plant generates. Over the 7500-hour average range of one CFL, then, a plant will emit 13.16 mg of mercury to sustain a 75-watt incandescent bulb but only 3.51 mg of mercury to sustain a 20-watt CFL (the lightning equivalent of a 75-watt traditional bulb). Even if the mercury contained in a CFL was directly released into the atmosphere, an incandescent would still contribute 4.65 more milligrams of mercury into the environment over its lifetime.

Midnyte_Ragebringer · Post by **Midnyte_Ragebringer** » June 11, 2008, 4:02 pm

I saw that. My concern is having this product in the home. You drop on of them on the kitchen floor and you need to have it cleaned up by a hazmat team.

miir · Post by **miir** » June 11, 2008, 4:03 pm

So don't fucking drop them.

Funkmasterr · Post by **Funkmasterr** » June 11, 2008, 4:05 pm

miir wrote:So don't fucking drop them.

Midnyte_Ragebringer · Post by **Midnyte_Ragebringer** » June 11, 2008, 4:08 pm

miir wrote:So don't fucking drop them.

I've known you too long to take you seriously. See you in game you smelly Canadian.

Post by **Sylvus** » June 11, 2008, 4:24 pm

A thermometer has 100x as much mercury in it, and you probably had one or two of those in your house growing up. I think you'll be ok.

Midnyte_Ragebringer · Post by **Midnyte_Ragebringer** » June 11, 2008, 4:28 pm

Sylvus wrote:A thermometer has 100x as much mercury in it, and you probably had one or two of those in your house growing up. I think you'll be ok.

Women used to smoke throughout their pregnancies too, but we have grown beyond those days. Having 30 mercury light bulbs is stupid. Even the new thermometers are plastic now and the mercury is protected. It sucks you don't see that and are just rallying to the side of green for the sake of doing such. Very telling.

Jarori Bloodletter · Post by **Jarori Bloodletter** » June 11, 2008, 4:30 pm

Mutherfucker I EAT Mercury for breakfast.

miir · Post by **miir** » June 11, 2008, 4:48 pm

Midnyte_Ragebringer wrote:Women used to smoke throughout their pregnancies too, but we have grown beyond those days. Having 30 mercury light bulbs is stupid. Even the new thermometers are plastic now and the mercury is protected. It sucks you don't see that and are just rallying to the side of green for the sake of doing such. Very telling.

I've been using these bulbs for like 4 years and have yet to break a single one.
In those 4 years, I have decreased my mercury footprint tenfold... yes TENFOLD!

Midnyte_Ragebringer · Post by **Midnyte_Ragebringer** » June 11, 2008, 4:50 pm

miir wrote:
Midnyte_Ragebringer wrote:Women used to smoke throughout their pregnancies too, but we have grown beyond those days. Having 30 mercury light bulbs is stupid. Even the new thermometers are plastic now and the mercury is protected. It sucks you don't see that and are just rallying to the side of green for the sake of doing such. Very telling.
I've been using these bulbs for like 4 years and have yet to break a single one.
In those 4 years, I have decreased my mercury footprint tenfold... yes TENFOLD!

I'm going to reduce my footprint by 12 inches by shoving it up your ass.

Boogahz · Post by **Boogahz** » June 11, 2008, 4:52 pm

Midnyte_Ragebringer wrote:
miir wrote: I've been using these bulbs for like 4 years and have yet to break a single one.
In those 4 years, I have decreased my mercury footprint tenfold... yes TENFOLD!
I'm going to reduce my footprint by 12 inches by shoving it up your ass.

Post by **Sylvus** » June 11, 2008, 5:01 pm

Midnyte_Ragebringer wrote:It sucks you don't see that and are just rallying to the side of green for the sake of doing such. Very telling.

And it sucks that you're overblowing what is essentially a non-issue and rallying to the side of brown (what's the opposite of green?) for the sake of doing such. CFL's, in addition to having less of a mercury footprint, have a smaller footprint across the board from using electricity to the byproducts of making said electricity. If you're too stupid to handle light bulbs without crunching them underfoot, or too lazy to recycle them, by all means keep using incandescent bulbs. In the meantime, enjoy the fresher air, lower energy costs and other benefits that chimpanzees who can successfully change a light bulb without smashing it are providing you.

Midnyte_Ragebringer · Post by **Midnyte_Ragebringer** » June 11, 2008, 5:05 pm

I'm not rallying at all. As are about 95% of my posts, this one was to show your hypocrisy. For YOUR cause, sacrifice is fine. For causes YOU see the value in, sacrifice is fine. I get you, believe me, I get you.

miir · Post by **miir** » June 11, 2008, 5:10 pm

Where is the sacrifice?

They use less energy.
They last longer.
They decrease the amount of mercury being released into the atmosphere.

It's a win/win/fuckingwin situation.

Funkmasterr · Post by **Funkmasterr** » June 11, 2008, 5:13 pm

miir wrote:Where is the sacrifice?

They use less energy.
They last longer.
They decrease the amount of mercury being released into the atmosphere.

It's a win/win/fuckingwin situation.

They cost more, and because I have not yet seen convincing proof that our "footprint" is as profound as others here seem to believe, I'm not jumping to spend the extra money. I could elaborate more, but I don't care to anymore than you would want to read it, I'm sure

Midnyte_Ragebringer · Post by **Midnyte_Ragebringer** » June 11, 2008, 5:17 pm

miir wrote:Where is the sacrifice?

They use less energy.
They last longer.
They decrease the amount of mercury being released into the atmosphere.

It's a win/win/fuckingwin situation.

Mercury spills. I thought we covered this? *boggle*

Spang · Post by **Spang** » June 11, 2008, 5:20 pm

So does gasoline and oil, and all the other harmful liquids you put into your automobile.

miir · Post by **miir** » June 11, 2008, 5:27 pm

They cost more

In the long run, they actually cost less.
They last longer and consume less energy.

Mercury spills. I thought we covered this?

Under normal usage, they expel no mercury into the atmosphere... unlike the tons of fucking mercury that is belched directly into the atmosphere by using less efficient incandescent bulbs.

So what you're saying is the mercury that might potentially be released into the atmosphere (by idots who break CFLs) is far more dangerous that the increased mercury that is actually being released into the atmosphere by using less efficient incandescent bulbs.

Brilliant logic!!

Funkmasterr · Post by **Funkmasterr** » June 11, 2008, 5:29 pm

miir wrote:
They cost more
In the long run, they actually cost less.
They last longer and consume less energy.

Allow me to clarify: The economy sucks, I don't make enough money, so as an effect the only cost I'm worried about currently is the immediate hit my checking account takes

miir · Post by **miir** » June 11, 2008, 5:31 pm

You're not seeing the big picture, Funk.

Midnyte_Ragebringer · Post by **Midnyte_Ragebringer** » June 11, 2008, 5:32 pm

Well Miir, we know that a mercury spill is very hazardous....we don't truly know what mercury being released into the atmosphere does.

Those bulbs don't always last longer either. It all depends on the wiring in your house. If it's all brand new wiring then it should last much longer. If you do not then they fail as quickly. Similar to DSL. If your telephone wiring is hsitty from the pole to the house and in the house, your DSL will blow.

Aslanna · Post by **Aslanna** » June 11, 2008, 5:40 pm

This is a perfect example of a Midnyte troll that nobody should have bothered to respond to. What the fuck does socialized healthcare, the Patriot Act and Iraq have to do with CFLs? Why even bother to mention that shit in the first place? Exactly.

Spang · Post by **Spang** » June 11, 2008, 5:44 pm

It's all a part of the big picture.

miir · Post by **miir** » June 11, 2008, 5:46 pm

we don't truly know what mercury being released into the atmosphere does

Oh come on now.
You're not really that stupid, are you?

The amount of mercury contained in a CFL does't not pose any significant hazard.

Post by **Sylvus** » June 11, 2008, 5:46 pm

Midnyte_Ragebringer wrote:I'm not rallying at all. As are about 95% of my posts, this one was to show your hypocrisy. For YOUR cause, sacrifice is fine. For causes YOU see the value in, sacrifice is fine. I get you, believe me, I get you.

I'm still not sure that you even know what the word "hypocrisy" means, even though you practice it as often as anyone. Which begs the question: do you know what "irony" means? While "green" isn't my cause, I can see the difference between the "sacrifice" of paying a little more up front for light bulbs to save a lot more on the back end and the "sacrifice" of giving up essential freedoms that this country was founded on in the name of the Patriot Act. Nowhere did I suggest you should "sacrifice" anything. I said that I thought you were way too fucking stupid to even be allowed around anything with Mercury in it, but I don't give a shit what you do one way or the other. I'm all for you finding a nice, glass 1950s thermometer, snapping the end of it off and mainlining it. How is that hypocrisy?

You don't "get" me, you don't even know shit about me. All you know of me is what I've shown you on this board, and most of that is me calling out stupid opinions that people post. You more frequently than most.

Have a lovely day, and try to be careful if handling any light bulbs.

Midnyte_Ragebringer · Post by **Midnyte_Ragebringer** » June 11, 2008, 5:46 pm

Aslanna wrote:This is a perfect example of a Midnyte troll that nobody should have bothered to respond to. What the fuck does socialized healthcare, the Patriot Act and Iraq have to do with CFLs? Why even bother to mention that shit in the first place? Exactly.

Maybe someday you'll be able to understand it. Right now your little brain can only see a trolling attempt. Good luck getting there. Spangs attempt at a joke was actually correct.

Midnyte_Ragebringer · Post by **Midnyte_Ragebringer** » June 11, 2008, 5:48 pm

Sylvus wrote: You don't "get" me, you don't even know shit about me. All you know of me is what I've shown you on this board...
.

Well said Sylvus. Well said.

Winnow · Post by **Winnow** » June 11, 2008, 5:53 pm

I like my new CFL lights. I made a lengthy post about them here:

http://www.veeshanvault.org/forums/view ... 25&t=22612

I'll review anything!

Spang · Post by **Spang** » June 11, 2008, 5:55 pm

Funny, I don't see Midnyte warning us about them in that thread.

Funkmasterr · Post by **Funkmasterr** » June 11, 2008, 5:57 pm

miir wrote:You're not seeing the big picture, Funk.

I sorry.

Chidoro · Post by **Chidoro** » June 12, 2008, 12:23 pm

Midnyte_Ragebringer wrote:Those bulbs don't always last longer either. It all depends on the wiring in your house. If it's all brand new wiring then it should last much longer. If you do not then they fail as quickly.

That's an interesting point to note because it is very very true. We've begun to convert as our old bulbs burn out and so far it is going well money wise. Our house is old (1920's) but the house was re-wired about 8 years ago. I have heard stories (one from my father, a retired environmental engineer who makes my political stances seem ultra-conservative) that they don't last anywhere near as long as predicted. My father basically gave up on them a couple of months ago because they are too expensive to replace if they don't last as predicted.

Funkmasterr · Post by **Funkmasterr** » June 12, 2008, 12:35 pm

Chidoro wrote:
Midnyte_Ragebringer wrote:Those bulbs don't always last longer either. It all depends on the wiring in your house. If it's all brand new wiring then it should last much longer. If you do not then they fail as quickly.
That's an interesting point to note because it is very very true. We've begun to convert as our old bulbs burn out and so far it is going well money wise. Our house is old (1920's) but the house was re-wired about 8 years ago. I have heard stories (one from my father, a retired environmental engineer who makes my political stances seem ultra-conservative) that they don't last anywhere near as long as predicted. My father basically gave up on them a couple of months ago because they are too expensive to replace if they don't last as predicted.

But it's better for the environment and that's all that matters, right?

Mak · Post by **Mak** » June 12, 2008, 2:24 pm

Funkmasterr wrote:
Chidoro wrote:
Midnyte_Ragebringer wrote:Those bulbs don't always last longer either. It all depends on the wiring in your house. If it's all brand new wiring then it should last much longer. If you do not then they fail as quickly.
That's an interesting point to note because it is very very true. We've begun to convert as our old bulbs burn out and so far it is going well money wise. Our house is old (1920's) but the house was re-wired about 8 years ago. I have heard stories (one from my father, a retired environmental engineer who makes my political stances seem ultra-conservative) that they don't last anywhere near as long as predicted. My father basically gave up on them a couple of months ago because they are too expensive to replace if they don't last as predicted.
But it's better for the environment and that's all that matters, right?

I changed virtually every bulb in my house with these about a year and a half ago. I've yet to replace a single one and between this and running my AC about 3 degrees warmer I am seeing noticeable differences in my electricity consumption.

Funkmasterr · Post by **Funkmasterr** » June 12, 2008, 2:26 pm

Mak wrote:
Funkmasterr wrote:
Chidoro wrote:
Midnyte_Ragebringer wrote:Those bulbs don't always last longer either. It all depends on the wiring in your house. If it's all brand new wiring then it should last much longer. If you do not then they fail as quickly.
That's an interesting point to note because it is very very true. We've begun to convert as our old bulbs burn out and so far it is going well money wise. Our house is old (1920's) but the house was re-wired about 8 years ago. I have heard stories (one from my father, a retired environmental engineer who makes my political stances seem ultra-conservative) that they don't last anywhere near as long as predicted. My father basically gave up on them a couple of months ago because they are too expensive to replace if they don't last as predicted.
But it's better for the environment and that's all that matters, right?
I changed virtually every bulb in my house with these about a year and a half ago. I've yet to replace a single one and between this and running my AC about 3 degrees warmer I am seeing noticeable differences in my electricity consumption.

Well chidoro isn't the first person I've heard say what he said by a long shot.. maybe you're lucky?

Winnow · Post by **Winnow** » June 12, 2008, 2:43 pm

No issues with any of the CFl lights I purchases so far.

Bad wiring isn't your CFL's fault.

Funkmasterr · Post by **Funkmasterr** » June 12, 2008, 2:59 pm

Winnow wrote:No issues with any of the CFl lights I purchases so far.

Bad wiring isn't your CFL's fault.

Yeah, and you've had them all of what, 2 months?

miir · Post by **miir** » June 12, 2008, 4:10 pm

I had a bathroom fixture that was burning out a CFL in 4-6 months.
I changed that fixture nearly a year ago and am still on the same bulbs.

Every other fixture in the house has had the same bulb for over two and a half years.

Winnow · Post by **Winnow** » June 12, 2008, 4:25 pm

Funkmasterr wrote:
Winnow wrote:No issues with any of the CFl lights I purchases so far.

Bad wiring isn't your CFL's fault.
Yeah, and you've had them all of what, 2 months?

Mass Effect > Lost Odyssey

Funkmasterr · Post by **Funkmasterr** » June 12, 2008, 4:35 pm

Winnow wrote:
Funkmasterr wrote:
Winnow wrote:No issues with any of the CFl lights I purchases so far.

Bad wiring isn't your CFL's fault.
Yeah, and you've had them all of what, 2 months?

Mass Effect > Lost Odyssey

I hate you.

Bagar- · Post by **Bagar-** » June 13, 2008, 3:31 am

Winnow wrote:
Funkmasterr wrote:
Winnow wrote:No issues with any of the CFl lights I purchases so far.

Bad wiring isn't your CFL's fault.
Yeah, and you've had them all of what, 2 months?

Mass Effect > Lost Odyssey

I agree.

Funkmasterr · Post by **Funkmasterr** » June 13, 2008, 9:52 am

Bagar- wrote:
Winnow wrote:
Funkmasterr wrote:
Winnow wrote:No issues with any of the CFl lights I purchases so far.

Bad wiring isn't your CFL's fault.
Yeah, and you've had them all of what, 2 months?

Mass Effect > Lost Odyssey

I agree.

I'd say I hate you too, but that wouldn't be true.

Hate isn't nearly a strong enough word.

laneela · Post by **laneela** » June 13, 2008, 11:45 am

Sylvus wrote:what's the opposite of green?)

Red.

I'm noticing a trend on Midnyte's part. In the last week, he's been anti- conserving energy, trying to lower poverty levels and giving people another healthcare option - in other words, he's anti- being a good person.

edit: in fairness, I'm basing my opinions of Midnyte on the thread titles and people's reactions to his posts since for the last glorious week or so, I've had him blocked.

Midnyte_Ragebringer · Post by **Midnyte_Ragebringer** » June 13, 2008, 12:04 pm

laneela wrote:
Sylvus wrote:what's the opposite of green?)
Red.

I'm noticing a trend on Midnyte's part. In the last week, he's been anti- conserving energy, trying to lower poverty levels and giving people another healthcare option - in other words, he's anti- being a good person.

edit: in fairness, I'm basing my opinions of Midnyte on the thread titles and people's reactions to his posts since for the last glorious week or so, I've had him blocked.

Wrong again. I'm anti-being negative about everything. Every election cycle it's about telling everyone how horrible everything is and how they can fix it. Yet, things aren't horrible. So many wonderful things are going on and never emphasized. Way too much time is being spent on the wrong and way too little time being spent on the right.

The best way to describe what I'm talking about is the new McDonalds commercial talking about what a great country this is. Problem is the punchline is a fucking chicken sammich.

Post by **Sylvus** » June 13, 2008, 12:25 pm

Midnyte_Ragebringer wrote:No big deal. Our socialized healthcare system will take care of this I'm sure. The ends justify the means I guess. Well, they do for this cause, but not for the Patriot Act or Iraq or anything of real substance and importance. For unproveable, faith based, faux crisis' it's okay. I get it.

Pure positivity!

Funkmasterr · Post by **Funkmasterr** » June 13, 2008, 12:49 pm

Sylvus wrote:
Midnyte_Ragebringer wrote:No big deal. Our socialized healthcare system will take care of this I'm sure. The ends justify the means I guess. Well, they do for this cause, but not for the Patriot Act or Iraq or anything of real substance and importance. For unproveable, faith based, faux crisis' it's okay. I get it.
Pure positivity!

While I'm not defending (or condemning) midnyte's comment, I do want to speak to your response to it.

I have said this before, and I'll say it again. Positivity and optimism are shields that people pull over their heads to cope with the fact that the world sucks and life isn't fair. That weakness is what Obama and people like him are feeding off of and taking advantage of. By all means, if you want to buy into the dream and think that somehow someone can make the injustices and wrongs of the world right, be my guest.

Meanwhile, I'll continue living in reality and not trying to put a positive spin on something that isn't positive. And other people that do the same shouldn't have to listen to snide comments from people who don't know the difference between pessimism and reality.

Hesten · Post by **Hesten** » June 13, 2008, 1:15 pm

Ok, im sorry, I know its cheap, but i REALLy have to do this

:

How many Midnytes does it take to change a CFL light bulb?

Spang · Post by **Spang** » June 13, 2008, 1:18 pm

He'd drop it.

How many surrealists does it take to screw in a light bulb?

Purple

Midnyte_Ragebringer · Post by **Midnyte_Ragebringer** » June 13, 2008, 1:40 pm

Sylvus wrote:
Midnyte_Ragebringer wrote:No big deal. Our socialized healthcare system will take care of this I'm sure. The ends justify the means I guess. Well, they do for this cause, but not for the Patriot Act or Iraq or anything of real substance and importance. For unproveable, faith based, faux crisis' it's okay. I get it.
Pure positivity!

Your need to go back and quote a perceived contrary statement only furthers my point.

Spang · Post by **Spang** » June 13, 2008, 1:41 pm

Quit being so negative!