From The
Editor-In-ChiefLETTER
Here’s a tale of two bulbs: Incandescents and CFLs. Back in 2007 congress passed legislation, signed by G.W. Bush, requiring all 100-watt incandescent bulbs to be nearly
30 percent more energy efficient by 2012. That increased efficiency
translates to higher priced incandescent bulbs, while the incandescents still don’t last as long as the new CFLs. For this reason, CFL
manufacturers have stopped making the old ones. The last plant
that made incandescent bulbs moved its operation to China last
year. You can still find the old bulbs on store shelves—for now—
so stock up if you’re a fan of the warmer light and cheaper cost of
the incandescent bulbs.
In effect, you’re choice in lighting will be limited and you’ll have
to pay more for the products. A 100-watt incandescent bulb costs
about 60-cents each. An equivalent CFL bulb, which uses less
energy, is $3.40 a bulb. The CFLs, however, last six to 10 times
longer than an incandescent bulb. Personally, I see the value in
lower energy bills and a longer-lasting bulb despite the higher
upfront cost, but that doesn’t mean I expect my perspective to
be shared by every other American. Saving on the initial cost of
light bulbs can be a very real, immediate benefit for lower income
families who are still reeling from the shaky economy. Plus, I’m a
big advocate for freedom of choice.
And now that I’m a dad, there’s another issue that bugs me. I
currently use the energy-efficient CFLs in most of the fixtures of
my home, but incandescents still have their place. My son will soon
be big enough to swing from the rafters. If he’s as rambunctious as
I was, then I can expect to deal with my fair share of broken bulbs.
The nice thing about broken incandescent bulbs in lamps and accident-prone fixtures is that you can sweep up the mess and get right
back to Hide and Seek. But with broken CFLs, you have to employ
a sort of complex HazMat operation. According to a recent public
health advisory from the Connecticut Department of Health titled,
“Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs: What to Do if a Bulb Breaks,”
the S.O.P. involves disposable gloves, a flashlight, duct tape, two
index cards, zip-lock bags, damp towels or rags and a portable
window fan.
Wait, it gets better. The literature explains that health experts
don’t expect to see illness from exposure to broken CFLs in “most
people.” However, CFLs contain a small amount of mercury, and
even small exposures “can affect the developing brain and central
nervous system in fetuses and young
children. This is why pregnant women
and young children should stay out of a
room where a CFL has broken until several
days after cleanup.” Several days!
This is progress, right? Is it just me, or
does the need to quarantine a room for
several days sound a little risky? Maybe
congress will address the situation, but
then again, that’s how we got here in the
first place.
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