Comments on: SEEING BULBS IN A NEW LIGHT

By: Boris Kofman, Red Bank Environmental Commission

Boris Kofman, Red Bank Environmental Commission — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 13:57:23 +0000

Home Depot is stepping up to the plate! Now there's really no excuse not to recycle CFLs.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/24/business/24recycling.html?_r=2&ref=business&oref=slogin&oref=slogin

By: Sam Sofer

Sam Sofer — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 10:51:49 +0000

Remember that compact fluorescent lights contain mercury and need to be recycled properly. Most county recycling centers will take spent fluorescent lights.

By: Boris Kofman, Red Bank Environmental Commission

Boris Kofman, Red Bank Environmental Commission — Tue, 09 Oct 2007 20:38:42 +0000

The Environmental Commission is happy to announce that we will be giving a free energy-efficient compact fluorescent light bulb to the first 200 households that pledge to replace at least 5 of your incandescent bulbs. All you have to do is sign a pledge card. We will have them available before and after the Candidates Forum, which takes place tomorrow night, Oct. 10, 7pm, at the River St. Commons. We hope to be at other events in the near future as well.

You can also sign the pledge online at http://energystar.gov/index.cfm?fuseaction=cal.pledgeForm
Under "Which organization referred you here", select Red Bank Environmental Commission.
Then send email to RedBankEC@gmail.com, and we'll get the free bulb to you.

The bulbs were provided by NJ's Clean Energy Program. Red Bank is a CleanPower Community Partner. You'll find additional information about the program, including the list of retailers that are offering discounts here - http://www.njcleanenergy.com/misc/residential/change-light-2007

By: Boris Kofman

Boris Kofman — Fri, 14 Sep 2007 23:36:00 +0000

Here's what the EPA says:
http://energystar.custhelp.com/cgi-bin/energystar.cfg/php/enduser/std_adp.php?p_faqid=2573&p_created=1148316587&p_sid=mp37iKLi&p_accessibility=0&p_redirect=&p_lva=&p_sp=cF9zcmNoPTEmcF9zb3J0X2J5PSZwX2dyaWRzb3J0PSZwX3Jvd19jbnQ9NDUmcF9wcm9kcz0zMTUmcF9jYXRzPSZwX3B2PTEuMzE1JnBfY3Y9JnBfcGFnZT0x&p_li=&p_topview=1

Fortunately, disposing of your CFLs shouldn't be an issue for many years, and by that time there should be more places.

By: Ann Roseman

Ann Roseman — Fri, 14 Sep 2007 23:16:43 +0000

This is one of the downsides of compact fluorescent lightbulbs - the only place to dispose of them properly in Monmouth County is at the Hazardous Waste Facility in Tinton Falls.

Check this link for address and hours:
http://www.cook.rutgers.edu/~wastemgmt/countylist.html#monmouth

By: alicia

alicia — Fri, 14 Sep 2007 20:31:54 +0000

my question here is where do you dispose of these bulbs once they eventually wear out? They should not be tossed into ordinary household trash since they do contain a tiny bit of mercury.

By: Boris Kofman

Boris Kofman — Fri, 14 Sep 2007 18:15:36 +0000

Ken,

I'm not sure I totally understand your statement, "Consider the self-funding option before a long-term commitment to JCPL."

If you're comparing replacing incandescents vs. signing up for CleanPower Choice, those are not mutually exclusive options. CFLs are mostly about energy conservation (and saving $$ is a nice side benefit). On the other hand, by switching to a clean power supplier, you're reducing our dependence on the polluting power plants. Both actions are very important in dealing with the climate crisis.

Boris

By: Boris Kofman

Boris Kofman — Fri, 14 Sep 2007 18:00:54 +0000

If you sign up for the program or have any questions, please contact the Env. Commission at redbankec@gmail.com

Boris Kofman

By: Mike Rooney

Mike Rooney — Fri, 14 Sep 2007 14:14:20 +0000

Ken,
It was announced Wednesday that GE, Philips (two biggest bulb makers) and other producers have agreed to phase out conventional bulbs in the next 7 years.

It should appear in next month's energy bill when Congress submits it to the President.

By: Ken Ameika

Ken Ameika — Fri, 14 Sep 2007 13:05:45 +0000

Regarding the CFL conversion (and ultimately a conversion to LED "thread in" replacements):

11W provides ~65W of incandescent light. ..An 83% savings.

My home bill went from high $100's in 2001 to > The "pro's":

Huge $ savings. I adopted the technology VERY early--paying a premium for the bulbs. The return on investment was realized within *FIVE months*.

** Consider the self-funding option before a long-term commitment to JCPL.

Normal replacement cycle is VERY long. 100,000 steady state hours advertised.

Bulbs run thermally cool. Your lampshades are less prone to "yellowing", etc. Safer for kids.

(!) You're deferring the construction of a new power plant.

>> The "con's":

$2.50 - $7 per bulb, versus $0.79 per incandescent.

Lights that are constantly switched--the CFL starters will fail sooner. Lights that are on a "motion sensor," for example will fail before the 100,000 hour rating.

Start up time is slow. Colder weather exacerbates the warm-up time. (..As said in the article).

You CANNOT use these on a SCR-switched dimmer. You will damage the starter and transformer.

They're physically larger. Some lamps--such as Tiffany-style -- are a little challenging to find an incandescent replacement. So, lighting snobs (me) need consider this..

There will be a day--I hope soon--where incandescent lamps will be legislative phased-out.