So, we’ve been “investing” in the new fancy compact fluorescent bulbs for several years now. Let me just say that I’m getting disgruntled. So they’re supposed to last for 6-7 years. Right?? Um…no. Ever read the box?? Down at the bottom on the back. Basically if you never use them they’ll last for a few years. Ok, so whatever that’s a bummer. But I could have gotten past that. Then I figure out that the things are laced with mercury. *Mer*cur*y*. Excuse me, HELLO!!! And I consider myself a decently informed individual. I listen to talk radio. But I did not know that these world-saving lightbulbs contain mercury. Not until one got shattered all over the floor did I notice the itsy bitsy teeny print in the smallest font imaginable. “Contains Mercury” {Is it just me, or shouldn’t that tidbit be a bit more prominently displayed??} Oh, that’s just fabulous!! Not to mention the past bulbs who obviously didn’t last the full seven years that made their way into the LANDFILL through my unsuspecting garbage bags!! I guess I’m just not seeing how that is better for the environment. It’s just a little bit frustrating when we keep hearing of these *magic* fixes to replace our awful energy guzzling whatevers, only to find out that whatever it is we’ve been told to switch to is just as bad, only in a different way. {I mean, don’t even get me started on ethanol…} And yet, my mantra seems to be: “Go Green, despite Al Gore.”
And since I’m on the subject of lightbulbs, here is an example of what can happen when you are lazy and don’t put the bulb back into the fixture:
It almost looks like a lightbulb in there, doesn't it??
He's good for something...
And just when we had removed that hornets nest,
Easy pointed up and said, "There's another one!" Good Grief!!
4 comments:
that is crazy we have those all through our house. with us so far so good on the durability. gosh i think i need to listen to talk radio and read more labels but i'm a little booked right now with listening to pop music and reading romance novels so i'll work on that later. actually i figure jason listens to enough for the both of us!!
Kevin listens to talk radio non stop. He drives alot with work and then the commute to from home/work every weekend. I can't even listen to 5 words before it drives me bonkers. With all the noise that the kids make I just don't need extra noise. I have not jumped on that light bulb bandwagon a whole lot. I do when I remember. Kind of sounds like a no win situation.
Hey Lyd-- I like to read those romance novels while eating my bon bons!!
That's crazy! I had no idea those like bulbs had mercury in them. And I agree that they don't truly last the promised 6-7 years. We haven't had one make it past a year, I think.
Good luck with the little nests you have going there. Nothing freaks me out quite as much as things that both fly and bite (well, except for spiders).
I find having no lights saves more energy, and the kids go to bed earlier.
Post a Comment