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This came in from a listener. I thought it deserved its own comment box. -- Ilyce Glink

Flicker compact florescent bulbs…

Ugly light

Cause headaches because of flicker

Hamper with wireless appliances, even computer networks

If used in fixture that is tuned on and off repeatedly – they will burn out prematurely.

Safety issues both by fire and poison (mercury).



Article here:

http://www.lockergnome.com/nexus/technobabble/2006/03/01/compact-fluorescent-lightbulb-obsession/



Gnomie Chris uses compact fluorescent bulbs where he’s found they work best, avoiding a pair of shortcomings:



Some people (like my wife) get headaches from using only fluorescent lighting (either because the emitted spectrum is missing something, or because the 60 HZ flicker is more bothersome to the subconscious mind, since there is no heated wire to store light between AC waveform peaks);



Compact fluorescents seem to interfere (i.e., stop them working) with infrared TV remotes (at least, in my experience).



http://hiddenwires.co.uk/resourcesarticles2007/articles20070201-03.html



Unless your client is a real tree-hugger, no one really wants fluorescent lighting. It doesn't do what filament lamps do. It's not as friendly and nowhere near as sexy. When you dim a filament lamp, it doesn't just get darker, it changes colour and even pretends to be candlelight. Don't think the boffins haven't noticed this problem - contrary to popular opinion, they live on the same planet as the rest of us and are well aware of fluorescent's shortcomings. The popular prejudice against fluorescent lamps is that they make you look like a zombie, they hum and flicker and give you migraines.



Florescent light packaging often has a disclaimer saying "May cause interference with radio, TV's, telephones, or remote controls. Not intended for use with emergency exit fixtures or emergency exit lights. Not for use with timers, photocells, dimmers and motion control devices." The manufacturer Luminus told me that their CFLs were designed to operate between 100 - 130 Volts & that they would burn out prematurely if the Voltage was below 100. Many manufacturers of CFLs make their bulbs TOO TALL, so a 25 Watt CFL may not fit in a fixture that a 100 Watt incandescent came out of. It is unfortunate that more manufacturers don't find ways to make these bulbs fit the same height profile as the incandescent bulbs they are designed to replace, such as make the spiral wider so it doesn't have to be as tall. All CFLs are a bit dim when they first turn on, but most are up to full brightness within 1 minute. Color temperature of CFLs is not usually that awful "cool white" colour temperature of 4000° Kelvin like in some tube florescent bulbs



ARE THEY SAFE?: I would have presumed that screw base, compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) were always safer than incandescent bulbs because they operate so much cooler, which should minimize the chance of combustible material igniting should it touch the bulb. However I received a report by a consumer who used a 14 Watt Luminus brand CFLs purchased at Costco about 1-2 years ago which recently went defective & started to smoke, here is what he said. "There was no actual flame, but it filled the globe (sealed light fixture) with very acrid smoke and then the smoke began to fill the hall. We were moving about in the hall at that particular moment and discovered the problem almost immediately. Whether the bulb will actually flame if left in a socket I don't know. It was powerful hot in that globe when I took it out and still actively belching smoke..." This was the potential first fire hazard incident I have heard of with CFLs, but it illustrates that a problem can occur. I have heard of fires caused by incandescent bulbs that were too high Wattage for the fixture they were installed in, or where they came in contact with combustible material (drapes, covers & lampshades, etc). I have also received a second report from another user of Luminus brand CFLs purchased at Costco in late 2002 or early 2003 were 2 separate bulbs at different times burned out while smoking & flickering, which "made the room smell for quite awhile". A third report on Luminus flood bulbs indicated that some of them cracked at the base & broken glass fell on the floor after only a month of use (I also experienced the same thing). Besides problems with some Luminus brand CFLs, some Pricemark bulbs can be a hazard too. Note any bulbs listed below as having a safety hazard in red. Some CFLs packaging indicates that the bulb contains mercury, which should be disposed of according to your locals laws, or call Lamp Recycle at 1-800-555-0050 or 1-800-435-4448. The mercury is contained in the sealed glass tube & presumably is not a safety hazard unless the glass gets broken (in which case don't breath near the tube). CFLs that belch smoke, usually do so from the white base that contains electronic components. General Electric formerly had on their web site an explanation of "End Of Life" sensing protection that can prevent smoke, something all CFLs should incorporate. Some "Fieldbreeze" brand CFLs sold in dollar stores are not safety rated & are an extreme safety hazard. One model of Globe brand CFL has a UL stamp of safety approval, but UL says the bulb is NOT approved & is a potential safety hazard. If you have a CFL that you believe is a safety hazard & if it is CSA approved, send it to CSA Group, 178 Rexdale Blvd., Toronto Ontario, M9W 1R3 or Phone (416) 747-4277. All CFLs should have either the CSA (Canadian Standards Association) or UL (Underwriter's Labs) logo of safety approval & if they do not have a safety rating as noted by the CSA or UL logo, then don't buy them. In Ontario & probably other Canadian provinces, ANY electrical device that operates on 32 Volts or more, must have either the CSA or UL logo, or be approved by the ESA (Electrical Safety Authority) as long as there is a standard for the product (which there is for CFLs), presumably states in the U.S.A. have similar laws. The Ontario Fire Marshal's Office also looks into CFL safety. If you have the FCC ID number from the base of the CFL, you can go to the U.S. Federal Communications Commission site & often see pictures of the parts used on the inside of these CFLs. Another organization to complain to if you are a U.S. citizen & have a CFL safety issue is the U.S. Product Safety Commission. It is assumed that CFLs can be put almost anywhere that an incandescent bulb can be put, but judging by the safety reports below, it is clear that some CFLs overheat & burn out early or cause potential safety issues when installed in a recessed or enclosed fixture. Read the manufacturers packaging for instructions of where & where not to use CFLs.

LIFE EXPECTANCY OF BULB: Having used CFLs for some time now, I am quite sceptical of some manufacturers claims for number of hours. Indeed, how would any typical consumer even know how long a bulb lasted unless they left it on constantly & took note of when they installed it & when it burned out. My own limited experience using at least 45 screw base compact fluorescent bulbs (as of 2003) in intermittent use (only occasionally turned on) in the last 18 months, is that 5 of them have burned out way too early (that's at least a 11.1% early failure rate using this small sampling & is likely to be higher). One person has reported to me that 19 of 21 Luminus 20 Watt CFLs purchased at Costco have burned out significantly prematurely. Another reported most 14 Watt Luminus CFLs burned out prematurely. At least one manufacturer has tried to convince me that less than 1% of CFLs fail prematurely, but I don't believe it, so keep your bill so you can return any bulb that burns our prematurely. In particular I've found that Sylvania brand CFLs routinely don't last very long. I've heard one report of Pur-lite bulbs burning out in a month or two. I received a report on poor customer service regarding Globe Electric Co. I have observed that using a florescent bulb in a pull chain fixture might shorten their life, possible because of the vibration. CFLs used in totally enclosed fixtures or florescent floods will also result in shortened life, probably because of heat build up in the sealed fixture. Bulbs routinely turned on in sub freezing temperatures (below -23°C or -10°F) may also shorten bulb life expectancy.

posted by  Anonymous | May 06, 2007 12:35 PM   | more stuff

The compact bulbs may save energy, however, they are not inexpensive, ESPECIALLY since they seem to only lastabout 3-4 weeks for me. Not much of a cost saving or me.

posted by  Anonymous | May 06, 2007 1:44 PM   | more stuff

RE: Suing to collect purchase deposit

A collection agency is often a better alternative than a lawyer or law firm, e.g. typically "no fee until collection", whereas typically a lawyer must be paid by the hour, with a non-refundbale retainer up front.

You advised suing in event the seller fails to return the good faith deposit. The purchase contract in that case appeared to be contingent upon the buyer obtaining a specified interest rate.

I am in sales for a nationwide collection agency, and submit that our industry is a more viable option than going to a lawyer/law firm. Most agencies have various options for attemting to collect and usually are willing to discuss options and fees to help the prospective customer decide the best collection strategy. In addition, our particular agency proves online ability to hire us with no sales interaction, if preferred. We also provide online tools to track collection progress. Further, we offer ability to investigate a person's credit history prior to becoming a creditor; the person you were advising should have realized she/he was becoming a potential creditor when signing this purchase contract. A good collection agency will also negatively report the debtor to the major credit reporting services, e.g. TransUnion, in event of non-payment within 30 days, whereas attorneys do not credit report.

Last: there are no guarantees the debtor will pay, no matter what collection and legal actions are taken, another reason to consider your collections options, rather than simply assuming you must hire a lawyer. Thanks!

posted by  Anonymous | May 06, 2007 1:58 PM   | more stuff

Hi IIlyce,
I'm the person who called earlier about the societal costs of decreasing our C02 emissions. To respond to a follow-up call: Yes, I even drive a Hybrid car. I bought my Honda Civic Hybrid in 2003 when gas was 97 cents a gallon, just four days after the US went to war. Personally, it is important for me to live in line with my beliefs about the US not being reliant on petroleum or to contribute to the current energy crisis. Also, I strive to be a positive role model for my students. I do believe that we consumers have the power to make a change. Whether it is how we power our homes, what kind of transportation we use, what we eat or wear, or how we invest, we consumers make a difference. Every product is inextricably linked socially, environmentally or even politically to a global market system. Therefore, being a conscientious consumer can be a powerful force for change. I have personally reaped the financial rewards from making these small changes, but what is not as easy to measure is how these individual consumer choices collectively put us on a path to a more sustainable outcome. What I do know is that it is well worth the investment for a better future!
Thank you for bringing the issue of compact flourescents as part of a solution-based plan to light!

Melissa Martin
Marietta, Georgia

posted by  earthchngr | May 06, 2007 2:01 PM   | more stuff

Hi IIlyce,
I'm the person who called earlier about the societal costs of decreasing our C02 emissions. To respond to a follow-up call: Yes, I even drive a Hybrid car. I bought my Honda Civic Hybrid in 2003 when gas was 97 cents a gallon, just four days after the US went to war. Personally, it is important for me to live in line with my beliefs about the US not being reliant on petroleum or to contribute to the current energy crisis. Also, I strive to be a positive role model for my students. I do believe that we consumers have the power to make a change. Whether it is how we power our homes, what kind of transportation we use, what we eat or wear, or how we invest, we consumers make a difference. Every product is inextricably linked socially, environmentally or even politically to a global market system. Therefore, being a conscientious consumer can be a powerful force for change. I have personally reaped the financial rewards from making these small changes, but what is not as easy to measure is how these individual consumer choices collectively put us on a path to a more sustainable outcome. What I do know is that it is well worth the investment for a better future!
Thank you for bringing the issue of compact fluorescents as part of a solution-based plan to light!

Melissa Martin
Marietta, Georgia

posted by  earthchngr | May 06, 2007 2:06 PM   | more stuff

Melissa Martin

Your beliefs are all fine and good but science and facts are harder. The right thing isn’t always right. Which is better for the environment a Hummer or a Prius?

Have a read…
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/3749377.stm

http://clubs.ccsu.edu/recorder/editorial/editorial_item.asp?NewsID=188

In the 70’s and 80’s we tightened up houses and ended up with sick house syndrome. This promoted molds, mildew, trapped solvents and off gassing, making thousands of people sick and very dead. Now it’s “green” buildings, and the most polluted air in America is in the single family “new” home!

I realize CO2 is a big deal in your life, and worried about societal costs and all. Well we live in Atlanta and our power is what is called dirty, not your dirty, voltage dirty. Put in a bunch of these bulbs in your house and if the voltage dips below 100 volts and all of them will burn out, above 130 volts and they can explode, this would vaporize mercury inside your home. This is probably an environmental problem don’t you think? BTW if you ever wondered why your hard drive got corrupted – it’s our dirty power – it drives computers crazy, the answer is a UPS.

Now I know you “live in line with (your) my beliefs” and have a hybrid car and of course your doing the right thing, but tell me how do you think that little tin can car would do tangling with a normal sized American car in an accident?

The Geezer

posted by  Anonymous | May 06, 2007 3:14 PM   | more stuff

Geezer, that Hummer story on BBC made great reading until you get to the punch line: "..industry experts say a massive switch to smaller cars or Hybrids will only happen if petrol supply is disrupted or prices hit $5 /gallon". The story mostly says 'if the tax breaks allow you to afford it, then burn as much gas as you want' (I'm OK Jack, to heck with the energy inefficiency).

I agree that environmentally the answer isn't necessarily a Prius, but with gas on the inexorable rise it shouldn't be too long before the 'normal sized American car' is down-sized just a little. It's no accident that Detroit is tanking while Toyota/Honda/Hyundai etc are on the rise.

If you have a Hummer, love it while you can still afford it, $5 /gallon is just around the corner ;-)

posted by  JohnM | May 06, 2007 4:47 PM   | more stuff

Hey John:
The short answer is no I don’t have a Hummer and would never own a Prius I consider both fringe vehicles. I drive a Suburban sized vehicle – modified that gets 26 MPG – real world MPG! My concerns have to do with survivability of these little tin cans in accidents, and the new science placed inside of the hybrids in general. Someone needs to consider what it will cost down the road (excuse the pun) for parts, batteries and service. Can you imagine what a battery pack would cost with dealer mark-ups in say 4 years – oh maybe $20,000?

Regarding the 5 bucks a gallon, I have listened to the pundits talk about all the reasons for the massive increase in gas prices and economically they just didn’t make sense to me until the CEO of Jet Blue explained his take on the subject. Considering this increase has happened in a 3 to 4 year time period the China/India increased argument doesn’t hold water, his answer is commodity dealers/brokers or oil speculators bidding up the market worldwide. If he’s right all we need to do as a country is flood the market with oil and the crude market will drop like a stone! Considering we have discovered oil ready to be drilled and pumped right here in the good old USA that rivals any find anywhere, it’s about time to do some of that along with increasing the number of refineries here as well.

Regarding Detroit vs. Toyota/Honda/Hyundai etc. Two thoughts come to mind – how can Detroit compete when the playing field is stacked against them? First off they have legacy charges they pass off to consumers (estimated at $7,000/ car), the competitors have little to none. They pay higher corporate tax and have more oversight charges then their competitors, and they have to deal with well-established union labor. Not a formula for success.

My second thought, do we as a nation need to be in the car business? It’s a hundred + year old business, and we have become a high tech nation, maybe we as a country need to focus on higher profit, higher technological businesses?

Geezer
PS Oh I like the Hummer story – makes the little gray cells think outside the box!

posted by  Anonymous | May 07, 2007 7:23 AM   | more stuff

2 Comments:

I just heard part of your show talking about economic and environmental savings resulting from replacing incandescent bulbs with fluorescent (an action I heartily endorse).

The conversation seemed to get hung up on whether the oil equivalence savings were ‘real’. Consider– if the nation made a wholesale switch to fluoro, the coal or gas-fired electricity that is ‘freed up’ as a result, could be re-deployed to power electric cars - that would certainly be a real savings in oil.

Coal and gas fired plants don’t need to be carbon-dirty – there are not-so-new technologies readily available for scrubbing power plant emissions to significantly reduce their carbon output.

The real issue isn’t about oil per se, our dependence on oil is only a symptom of the real problem – energy usage. The greatest threat to America’s national security ultimately comes back to the extreme amounts of energy (per capita) used and wasted in the US. Anything that saves/reduces/conserves energy is a move in the right direction.

As an Australian in Atlanta, I’m proud that my country is taking a lead and setting an environmental/economic example in many ways – only one of which is the incandescent/fluoro issue.

posted by  JohnM | May 06, 2007 11:27 AM   | more stuff

Try this tip: Each payday, check how many miles you have driven in your car since last payday (keep a log). Then put aside into an online savings account an amount equivalent to 40 cents per mile that you drove.

When you see your usage pattern emerging, include this 'expense' into your budgeting.

Use the savings account to pay for car maintenance and insurance, when you eventually replace your car you'll have a nest egg to pay for it, and you'll be able to avoid or minimize financing costs.

By paying for car usage with real dollars *as you use it*, it will be front-and-center in your thoughts and you might be encouraged to find ways to decrease your usage - "does it make sense to travel 7 miles to the supermarket and back at a real cost of $2.80 to buy a gallon of milk?".

Oh, and if your driving patterns decrease you'll be saving more barrels of oil ;-)

posted by  JohnM | May 06, 2007 11:45 AM   | more stuff

1 Comments:

My ex and I have a house that my name was never put on the mortgage. We are in Md which is a marital property state. Does anyone know how I can find out the mortgage balance and if he's refinanced? Under our limited divorce, he's not supposed to do anything w/the house yet.

posted by  Anonymous | April 24, 2007 7:45 PM   | more stuff

3 Comments:

In addition to green building of which I strongly encourage -- I would like to point out the benefits and motivation for promoting and advocating for recycling to raise the quality of life in our community, the continued economic health and reduced energy dependence and increased homeland security of our nation as a legacy for our children and future generations. I base this opinion on my experience in the military, recent deployment to Iraq and work/interest on sustainable communities and growth.

From a state, regional and national perspective, making material recovery a priority, a responsibility, and behavior that every citizen should advocate and actively participate is in the interest of our economic well being.

You may not be aware but the recycled and recovered material has a significant impact many state and region economies in addition to reducing dependence on imported energy. For example in the southeast -- it has some of the strongest market and demand in the nation for these materials – materials needed for U.S Manufacturers (such as paper (largest industry behind agriculture) to compete in the global market. A few statistics worth considering

Across the US recycling industry generated $236 billion per year in (1.1 Million) employment and annual salaries (on par with the US Automotive industry.) In South Carolina – in 2005 the recycling industry supported 37,440 jobs, $1.5 Billion in personal income, $69 Million in tax revenue, and a total economic impact of $6.5 Billion. In North Carolina there are more then 500 businesses employing over 14,000 people. In Georgia, the carpet industry (Mohawk) uses 1/3 of all beverage containers (PET Plastic) recovered in the US for carpet products. Georgia is the 2nd largest pulp and paper industry state in the nation with 15 paper mills that use recycled fiber as a feedstock for production (9 that entirely rely on recycled fiber) and is home to the largest aluminum recycler in the world – Novellis where cans are processed at their Greensboro GA facility. In a 2006 study, the GA recycled plastics industry accounts for $1.5 Billion in sales, 36,000 jobs, and $875 million in salaries and paper represents $10 Billion, employs 25,000 Georgians with a payroll of over $1 Billion. As its stands today, these industries cannot get enough material here in Georgia and the Southeast are shipping materials from across the US as well as Canada and Mexico. My point here is there is a strong demand and market for these recovered materials.

From a solid waste perspective -- In 2005, Georgia released a study that approx 36% of all municipal waste disposed of in Georgia was composed of the commonly recyclable products that our state and regional industry cannot get enough of (partially due to competition by China for recycled material imports). This includes 1.8 Million tons of paper, 160,000 tons of plastic bottles, 220,000 tons of glass and 360,000 tons of metals. With the pressure of global competition, finding ways to reduce and eliminate throwing these valuable commodities into the ground is an easy way to enhance and make sure our industrial base in Georgia stays strong and grows. My parting thought s -- per the Aluminum Association over $1.2 Billion worth of cans went into a landfill last year (2005).

Beyond macro economics – it makes sense for us locally as well. From rural to urban, there are great examples where even with the low landfill tipping fees it makes sense for a county or city to promote policies for recycling that result in reduced costs to provide trash and recycling services (revenue neutral or positive).

National security and energy:

Over the last month on topic that we hear on daily is that of climate change where public discussion has been focused on the contributions of carbon and its impact on the global climate. While I am not advocating a position or opinion one way or another, I do want to provide a perspective to consider. The 3rd largest contributor or sector of carbon and greenhouse gases behind power generation and transportation is waste management and disposal. My point is – if this is a concern for you – this is one area all of us can all help with minimal effort – promote and support the collection and recovery of materials – i.e. put it in the bin.

Secondly, increased material recovery and recycling will significantly reducing our energy dependency and increase our energy security. If all recoverable materials were recovered and put back into reuse, it would save in terms energy over the lifecycle (mining, production and etc..) the equivalent of 1.3 Quadrillion BTUs which is equivalent to reducing the current national residential power grid demand by 13% -- a significant impact.

Promoting strong local recycling programs and waste management policies is not just a green thing to do – is essential in my opinion to the health of our community, our economic future, growth, and well being and enhances our ability to keep the homeland safe through increased energy productivity and efficiency. It is one way each and every one citizen can participate and do their part with little or no sacrifice to enhance and preserve our children and their children’s future.

posted by  Anonymous | March 25, 2007 8:22 PM   | more stuff

Question re Federal Open Space Tax Credit: My neighbor told me that there is a new federal law that give a property owner an income tax credit for agreeing not to develop natural land. I am interested in finding out if this is true. I am about to sell my house on 10 acrea and it qualifies for a state tax break, but the income tax break sounds even better. My property can be viewed at www.paradiseinpaintvalley.com

posted by  Anonymous | March 31, 2007 12:37 PM   | more stuff

Ms. Glink, one of your callers just stated that compact fluorscent light bulbs are not dimmable. They do actually make a dimmable version: http://www.buylighting.com/Dimmable-Compact-Fluorescent-s/113.htm

posted by  Anonymous | May 06, 2007 11:06 AM   | more stuff