Hin's Photo Corner: compact fluorescent lightbulbs

green cup with Pentax DA 35mm f/2.8 1:1 macro limited and Pentax K20D

I want to follow up on my green efforts in finding practical ways in home remedies with easy to do efforts in making my home energy efficient. In the documentary movie of Inconvenient Truth, I learned about Carbon Dioxide emission and that Coal burning is involved in 50% of the electric power generation in the United States. That alone is a huge cause of carbon dioxide emission from US alone as a responsible country with higher goals to conserve energy and preserve our environment. How can we all chip in to help? In conserving with less electricity usage, not only can we save on our monthly electric bills, we are directly helping to preserve our environment in burning less coal.

As mentioned before in my Going Green in Blogging efforts, one of my set simple goals is to study all energy saving light bulbs available for my family. And I find this wonderful clip that explain plainly in English what Compact Fluorescent CFL Lightbulbs are all about. Most of the material are known and well presented in a easy to remember and understand manner. I would research into the dangerous component that exists in small amount of mercury in those CFL light-bulbs and learn ways to recycle them properly. This clip is well worth seeing with your family

Update on CFL recycling

As we learned form reading up discussions on CFL, the biggest complaint is right on the recycling need due to the presence of mercury. How much mercury is present in each light bulb? I can't honestly tell but from my casual reading, it should be a concern if one ever get the CFL ligh-bulb broken. Here are few tips that I gathered from the web

Ikea is one of the stores that provides recycling of CFL light bulbs. It is renowned as one of the green companies that advocate energy saving with their CFL light bulbs products.
In the recycling companies like BFI or Allied Waste Management, I am sure the monthly bill has the contact number for one to inquire about the recycling of CFL light-bulbs
I will ask the following CFL carrying stores that I think are quite responsible companies selling CFL, I will check and report back -- Walmart, Lowes, Orchard Supply and Homes Depot.
In the event that a CFL light bulb is broken. First thing to teach our kids is to stay away from touching the broken glass along with these tips:
- Open up nearby windows to improve air ventilation and avoid physical contact
- Use glove and paper towel and a little brush to sweep away the broken glass. Be aware of open wound and avoid contact from broken glass. Wrap in sturdy paper bag and store in container that is ready for safe delivery to recycled place

Green Bokeh
Natural Lighting -- Zero cost