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Chat Area => General Discussion Area => Topic started by: Jay w on 05 January 2008, 12:43:42

Title: we thought energy saving bulbs saved the planet
Post by: Jay w on 05 January 2008, 12:43:42
http://news.bbc.co.uk/mobile/bbc_news/top_stories/717/71726/story7172662.shtml?
seems we have been kept in the dark.......again
Title: Re: we thought energy saving bulbs saved the planet
Post by: Crazydad on 05 January 2008, 12:53:10
Yes just heard this in the news too, although it was said ages ago that they contain mercury no body warned us of the danger if smashed. >:(

I have them all over the house, just hope they dont explode on me :o :o
Title: Re: we thought energy saving bulbs saved the planet
Post by: Kevin Wood on 05 January 2008, 13:10:02
It's probably hysteria about nothing, but goes to show how promoting mass adoption of these things without looking at the full picture can be harmful.

.. and how many people, when a product has reached then end of its' life, go and dig up the original packaging to find out how to dispose of it / clear it up? It's straight in the bin with everything in this house, I'm afraid to say. Batteries, bulbs, old oil filters...  :-[

Kevin
Title: Re: we thought energy saving bulbs saved the planet
Post by: Markjay on 05 January 2008, 13:13:27
It's a bit like the idea that we should set up new factories to build masses and masses of high-capacity batteries to power hybrid and electrical cars, and then have them replaced them every five years... and this is how we are going to save the planet, by burring tonnes of lead-acid batteries in the ground every year....  :o  :-X

Title: Re: we thought energy saving bulbs saved the planet
Post by: Martin_1962 on 05 January 2008, 13:14:08
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It's probably hysteria about nothing, but goes to show how promoting mass adoption of these things without looking at the full picture can be harmful.

.. and how many people, when a product has reached then end of its' life, go and dig up the original packaging to find out how to dispose of it / clear it up? It's straight in the bin with everything in this house, I'm afraid to say. Batteries, bulbs, old oil filters...  :-[

Kevin

Get recycling then Kevin
Title: Re: we thought energy saving bulbs saved the planet
Post by: Kevin Wood on 05 January 2008, 13:15:12
Absolutely. You improve one aspect of a product's environmental impact and something much worse pops up somewhere else. That's why the whole picture needs to be considered, not just whatever target the government happens to be trying to meet this week. >:(

Kevin
Title: Re: we thought energy saving bulbs saved the planet
Post by: Kevin Wood on 05 January 2008, 13:20:35
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Get recycling then Kevin

Actually the major things do get recycled. The council here are pretty good. Separate collections of waste for recycling, non-recycling waste and glass. Does make me wonder how much extra diesel they burn in the process.

The point is, people don't give a second thought about how to dispose of small, infrequently discarded items like light bulbs, and markings on the packaging won't help.

Kevin


Title: Re: we thought energy saving bulbs saved the planet
Post by: Martin_1962 on 05 January 2008, 13:22:22
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Get recycling then Kevin

Actually the major things do get recycled. The council here are pretty good. Separate collections of waste for recycling, non-recycling waste and glass. Does make me wonder how much extra diesel they burn in the process.

The point is, people don't give a second thought about how to dispose of small, infrequently discarded items like light bulbs, and markings on the packaging won't help.

Kevin

Good, we store batteries and bulbs for disposal
Title: Re: we thought energy saving bulbs saved the planet
Post by: Crazydad on 05 January 2008, 13:28:03
There are battery disposal centers every where you go here. :y

as well as oil waste too Kevin  ::) ::)
Title: Re: we thought energy saving bulbs saved the planet
Post by: zirk on 05 January 2008, 13:44:42
The new House Hold LED blubs are quite impressive, 60watt brightness from a 3watt comsumption.

Title: Re: we thought energy saving bulbs saved the planet
Post by: Crazydad on 05 January 2008, 13:53:45
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The new House Hold LED blubs are quite impressive, 60watt brightness from a 3watt comsumption.



We cant get them over here, are they new on the Market ::) ::)
Title: Re: we thought energy saving bulbs saved the planet
Post by: zirk on 05 January 2008, 14:33:54
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The new House Hold LED blubs are quite impressive, 60watt brightness from a 3watt comsumption.



We cant get them over here, are they new on the Market ::) ::)

Yea, they are new, a Mate of mine bought a box load, from Ireland I think, they just plug in like a normal bulb, no transformers or nothing.

Cant see any reason why they cant be sourced in Germany?


Title: Re: we thought energy saving bulbs saved the planet
Post by: Kevin Wood on 05 January 2008, 15:09:15
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The new House Hold LED blubs are quite impressive, 60watt brightness from a 3watt comsumption.


Mrs. KW gets the blubs every time there's a sad film on TV ::)

I wonder what the light temperature is like? That's the biggest thing in favour of conventional bulbs, IMHO. The light is at a more "natural" colour temperature.

Kevin
Title: Re: we thought energy saving bulbs saved the planet
Post by: Marks DTM Calib on 05 January 2008, 16:18:05
The LED ones are bloody awful.....because they only emit a narrow bandwidth of red, blue and green you loose a lot of detail in what hey light up because the light spectrum is poor.

And if you think the materials in a flourescent tube are bad......look at whats used as dopents in the silicon/AlGaAs LEDs!

A little less of it though and its encapsulated.
Title: Re: we thought energy saving bulbs saved the planet
Post by: Taxi_Driver on 05 January 2008, 17:39:08
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Get recycling then Kevin

Actually the major things do get recycled. The council here are pretty good. Separate collections of waste for recycling, non-recycling waste and glass. Does make me wonder how much extra diesel they burn in the process.

The point is, people don't give a second thought about how to dispose of small, infrequently discarded items like light bulbs, and markings on the packaging won't help.

Kevin



In the last couple of months everyone in Swindon, now has to use wheelie bins (unless you live at the top of a 20 storey council flats, then you still allowed to throw the bin bags outa the windows  ;D )

Now this isnt really recycling.......ok it forces you do more recycling if you carnt get all the rubbish bags in the wheelie bins.

I was chatting to a bin man the other week.......to what he thought of the wheelie bins.......it now takes twice as long to get around the rounds (hence the fortnightly collection.....council lead us to to believe this would lead to 'greener' service......um No.....unless they buy twice as many more collection lorries......they carnt offer a weekly service)
Also he said they are now getting the mileage checked on the carts, when it leaves the compound and when it gets back.......apparently their transport manager cannot believe his diesel bill has increased 6 fold and is convinced they are all going on jollies to the coast in the lorries  ;D.

If you think about the huge fuel increasage apart from taking twice as long........before wheelie bins.....i can remember collection lorry being driven at walking pace down my road whilst other 3 bin men, scurried behind it like busy bees, chucking rubbish bags in the back.......job done.......
Now its stop every 2 wheelie bins empty them.....then move 10 yrds, stop.....etc....etc
Title: Re: we thought energy saving bulbs saved the planet
Post by: Markjay on 05 January 2008, 17:45:31
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Get recycling then Kevin

Actually the major things do get recycled. The council here are pretty good. Separate collections of waste for recycling, non-recycling waste and glass. Does make me wonder how much extra diesel they burn in the process.

The point is, people don't give a second thought about how to dispose of small, infrequently discarded items like light bulbs, and markings on the packaging won't help.

Kevin



In the last couple of months everyone in Swindon, now has to use wheelie bins (unless you live at the top of a 20 storey council flats, then you still allowed to throw the bin bags outa the windows  ;D )

Now this isnt really recycling.......ok it forces you do more recycling if you carnt get all the rubbish bags in the wheelie bins.

I was chatting to a bin man the other week.......to what he thought of the wheelie bins.......it now takes twice as long to get around the rounds (hence the fortnightly collection.....council lead us to to believe this would lead to 'greener' service......um No.....unless they buy twice as many more collection lorries......they carnt offer a weekly service)
Also he said they are now getting the mileage checked on the carts, when it leaves the compound and when it gets back.......apparently their transport manager cannot believe his diesel bill has increased 6 fold and is convinced they are all going on jollies to the coast in the lorries  ;D.

If you think about the huge fuel increasage apart from taking twice as long........before wheelie bins.....i can remember collection lorry being driven at walking pace down my road whilst other 3 bin men, scurried behind it like busy bees, chucking rubbish bags in the back.......job done.......
Now its stop every 2 wheelie bins empty them.....then move 10 yrds, stop.....etc....etc

Fortnightly rubbish collections? good idea... how much money did the Council take off your rates then? Surely they pass this huge saving to the tax payer....?  >:(
Title: Re: we thought energy saving bulbs saved the planet
Post by: Markjay on 05 January 2008, 17:48:08
I showed a friend the article about the light bulbs, his comment was that since mankind is the main source of polution, then reducing the population by introducing toxic mercury into households will surely have a positive effect on global warming...
Title: Re: we thought energy saving bulbs saved the planet
Post by: Taxi_Driver on 05 January 2008, 17:51:31
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I showed a friend the article about the light bulbs, his comment was that since mankind is the main source of polution, then reducing the population by introducing toxic mercury into households will surely have a positive effect on global warming...

Now theres a thought MJ.....

Eat a low energy lightbulb everyday to help reduce global warming  :y  ::)
Title: Re: we thought energy saving bulbs saved the planet
Post by: Auto Addict on 05 January 2008, 18:01:23
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I showed a friend the article about the light bulbs, his comment was that since mankind is the main source of polution, then reducing the population by introducing toxic mercury into households will surely have a positive effect on global warming...

Now theres a thought MJ.....

Eat a low energy lightbulb everyday to help reduce global warming  :y  ::)

 ;D ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: we thought energy saving bulbs saved the planet
Post by: amigov6 on 05 January 2008, 18:28:42
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http://news.bbc.co.uk/mobile/bbc_news/top_stories/717/71726/story7172662.shtml?
seems we have been kept in the dark.......again
:)Kept in the dark...Was that a deliberate pun? :D
Title: Re: we thought energy saving bulbs saved the planet
Post by: Dave-C on 05 January 2008, 19:28:41
I remember physics in high school...  we had small recepticals of mercury, we used it for conductivity tests!  Think I'll get a claim in for my illness...  haven't really got one, twitch, twitch ;D ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: we thought energy saving bulbs saved the planet
Post by: Kevin Wood on 05 January 2008, 19:39:47
I shudder to think what the H&S guys would think about my school days.

At one point there was a plan for us to set up a radio station and the head of science was quite happy for us to climb up a flue shaft from the boiler room to the roof of the 4 storey building (while the boilers were running) and have a wander around up there looking for places where we could attach an antenna. :o I remember standing at the very corner of the flat roof and thinking how disorientating it was to look down. :o

And yes, we used to play with mercury too.

Kevin
Title: Re: we thought energy saving bulbs saved the planet
Post by: Dave-C on 05 January 2008, 19:44:44
We had used to get old florry tubes, throw them into the canal, strap our riffles onto our crossbars and ride to the canal to shoot them....  

Imagine riding a Raleigh Chopper with a riffle attached these days!

Frightening :-/
Title: Re: we thought energy saving bulbs saved the planet
Post by: Kevin Wood on 05 January 2008, 19:50:04
... but it's a good way to learn a bit of common sense, which is sadly lacking today. A bit harsh on those wh don't pick up the common sense as quickly, perhaps... ;D

Kevin
Title: Re: we thought energy saving bulbs saved the planet
Post by: Golfbuddy on 05 January 2008, 20:02:28
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I remember physics in high school...  we had small recepticals of mercury, we used it for conductivity tests!  Think I'll get a claim in for my illness...  haven't really got one, twitch, twitch ;D ;D ;D ;D

My school had a massive, around 5 litres, dish of the stuff. The teacher invited us to the front of the class and let us all dip our hands in it to prove that it was indeed liquid at room temperature. Of course we nicked some and played with it on the desks for days after. That dish of mercury was there for years and, to the best of my knowledge, no one has had any ill effects from it.
Title: Re: we thought energy saving bulbs saved the planet
Post by: Taxi_Driver on 05 January 2008, 20:11:54
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I remember physics in high school...  we had small recepticals of mercury, we used it for conductivity tests!  Think I'll get a claim in for my illness...  haven't really got one, twitch, twitch ;D ;D ;D ;D

My school had a massive, around 5 litres, dish of the stuff. The teacher invited us to the front of the class and let us all dip our hands in it to prove that it was indeed liquid at room temperature. Of course we nicked some and played with it on the desks for days after. That dish of mercury was there for years and, to the best of my knowledge, no one has had any ill effects from it.

That expains your avartar Mr Golfbudgie..............SUE EM  :y :y ;D
Title: Re: we thought energy saving bulbs saved the planet
Post by: Crazydad on 05 January 2008, 20:19:06
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I remember physics in high school...  we had small recepticals of mercury, we used it for conductivity tests!  Think I'll get a claim in for my illness...  haven't really got one, twitch, twitch ;D ;D ;D ;D

My school had a massive, around 5 litres, dish of the stuff. The teacher invited us to the front of the class and let us all dip our hands in it to prove that it was indeed liquid at room temperature. Of course we nicked some and played with it on the desks for days after. That dish of mercury was there for years and, to the best of my knowledge, no one has had any ill effects from it.

That expains your avartar Mr Golfbudgie..............SUE EM  :y :y ;D
Thats my Hero "The Saint".  :y :y :y
Title: Re: we thought energy saving bulbs saved the planet
Post by: Golfbuddy on 05 January 2008, 20:20:46
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I remember physics in high school...  we had small recepticals of mercury, we used it for conductivity tests!  Think I'll get a claim in for my illness...  haven't really got one, twitch, twitch ;D ;D ;D ;D

My school had a massive, around 5 litres, dish of the stuff. The teacher invited us to the front of the class and let us all dip our hands in it to prove that it was indeed liquid at room temperature. Of course we nicked some and played with it on the desks for days after. That dish of mercury was there for years and, to the best of my knowledge, no one has had any ill effects from it.

That expains your avartar Mr Golfbudgie..............SUE EM  :y :y ;D
Thats my Hero "The Saint".  :y :y :y

But, I'm not buying a Volvo. Yet.  :y
Title: Re: we thought energy saving bulbs saved the planet
Post by: hotel21 on 05 January 2008, 20:22:31
Lots of folk probably got more mercury in their fillings than in the dust inhaled from the occassional broken high energy blub...
Title: Re: we thought energy saving bulbs saved the planet
Post by: Dave-C on 06 January 2008, 08:28:09
On the subject of Mercury.... Is that what killed him in the end?  They said it was aids! :-X