Lovin’ Those LEDs

April 13, 2012 By greengirlinc 1 Comment

If you are still hanging on to those Edison bulbs, it is time to let go my friend. I understand; you just couldn’t embrace those compact fluorescent bulbs. The CFLs lacked the warmth and fire you desired, I get it. You were concerned about mercury in your home, disposal and radiation.

Now you have a new way to do good for the environment, have the warm glow of the sun, be free of mercury spilling in your home and have no guilt of tossing a bulb in the trash. The new LEDs are here and better than ever.

Now, brace yourself, they are not cheap. Think of replacing those old incandescent bulbs with an LED like you think of replacing your drafty, old, inefficient windows; not cheap, but worth the investment. LEDs can last up to 20 years, yes, years. LEDs cost pennies to run compared to dollars to run the old-time bulbs. The new LEDs can be dimmed almost as well as an incandescent and there is no buzzing like you get from even a dimmable CFL. We even had some LEDs that were labeled dimmable, but flickered terribly.

Philips AmbientLED lit.

My favorite new bulb is the Philips AmbientLED. I have replaced many bulbs, including CFL bulbs, in our house with this new bulb. I know, it does look a little funny, but most of the time you don’t see the bulb or notice it. It is very bright. It seems brighter than what is stated on the package. I love the warm glow from it. I love that it does not flicker or buzz when dimmed. Although these bulbs are no where as cheap as an incandescent at the register, they cost far less than LEDs from just a year or two ago. Not only that, but an incandescent is about 90 percent inefficient. Literally, it makes a better heater than a light.

There is a very good reason that governments decided to phase incandescents out, it is technology from over a hundred years ago. Do you get in touch with friends with telegraphs? No, you call them on your phone, probably your cellular phone. Do you beat your clothes on a rock next to a river? No, you throw them into a washing machine, maybe even a super efficient front loader. Do you go and turn the crank on your automobile engine? No, at this point you may not even turn a key, but instead push a button to start your car.

Come on, join the 21st century. Let go of your incandescents and embrace LEDs; your wallet, energy bill and planet will thank you.

Filed Under: Energy Efficiency, Home Toxins, Recycling, Reduce and Reuse, Sustainable Energy, Uncategorized Tagged With: , , , , ,

Gold Mining Kills Children

March 2, 2012 By greengirlinc Leave a Comment

Please read this important story written by Elizabeth Grossman, author and journalist.  It is truly tragic. This is another reason to buy second-hand jewelry.

How a Gold Mining Boom is Killing the Children of Nigeria by Elizabeth Grossman.

Filed Under: Reduce and Reuse, Toxins Tagged With: , , , , ,

What to do with Mercury Filled Items

May 29, 2011 By greengirlinc 1 Comment

Courtesy of Michigan Department of Community Health

A mercury thermometer is the first thing that pops into our head when we think of a household item with mercury in it, but there are other things, as well.  Old light switches and appliances, batteries made before 1990, light up shoes and pesticides made before 1994, latex paint made before 1992, jewelry and novelty clothing with decorations more than 17 years old, LCD monitors, and fluorescent light bulbs could all contain mercury. The EPA has a list of items, not on this short one, of potential sources of mercury in consumer and commercial products.

If you find these items around your house, you should look for a clean-sweep event near you. To help you find a place to dispose of these things check this list on the EPA website for state and local mercury collection/recycling/exchange programs.

Aside from products in our home, fish we eat are also a source of mercury because of mercury in the atmosphere from burning coal. The FDA has some tips and guidelines for fish consumption.

The number one thing to keep in mind with any product that might contain mercury is not to throw it out with your regular garbage. Keep it in a safe place until you can properly and safely dispose of it.

Filed Under: Environment, Food, Health, Home Toxins, Recycling, Uncategorized Tagged With: , , , , , ,

A New Light Bulb on the Horizon

February 5, 2011 By greengirlinc Leave a Comment

Image courtesy of Vu1

Image courtesy of Vu1

Not long ago I wrote about the death of the incandescent bulb in the imminent future.  In that blog I also wrote about the alternatives to incandescents; CFLs and LEDs.  Soon after writing about those two bulbs I can across another bulb that will start to be available sometime early this year, the ESL bulb.  ESL stands for Electron Stimulated Luminescence.  Up to now, I thought that LEDs were the cats meow.  Granted, LEDs still needed some improvements, but those improvements were coming.  I just purchased some LEDs that have wonderful light quality; warm and bright.

The ESL bulb is made by the Vu1 Corporation, and could be even better.  This new bulb is mercury-free, like LEDs; highly efficient, like LEDs and CFLs; fully dimmable, like incandescents (I’ve yet to find a CFL or LED bulb that thrilled me with its dimming capabilities); full spectrum and environmentally friendly, according to Vu1′s website.  This bulb is also an instant on bulb without the warm up time associated with CFLs.  Vu1 manufactures bulbs in the Czech Republic.  The company plans to make the bulbs available for sale early in 2011.  Another benefit to the ESL bulb is the price.  The r30 costs $19.95, and has a 10,000 hour life.  The downside is that right now you would have to order 8 bulbs.  The company plans to offer different styles in the near future.  Sometime soon we should be able to replace the bulbs in our homes and work places, and save energy, without giving up the qualities that we love in incandescents.  Here’s to innovation and the green movement!

Filed Under: Energy Efficiency Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , ,

The End of the Incandescent

January 10, 2011 By greengirlinc 1 Comment

Photo courtesy of Petr Kratochvil

The end is near for the incandescent bulb.  By 2014, incandescent bulbs will not be completely banned in the United States, but almost.  There is a good reason for this, they are incredibly inefficient; 90 percent of the energy used creates heat, not light.  Think about that.  What if the average furnace was only 10 percent efficient?

I know there are concerns about mercury in compact fluorescent bulbs or CFLs, but manufacturers have worked to lower the mercury levels.  In a side-by-side comparison, a CFL only has 1.6 mg of mercury in it (many are now lower) and an incandescent bulb will cause 5.5 mg of mercury to be released into the atmosphere.  The EPA has direction for cleaning up a mercury spill from a CFL in your home.  By-the-way, an old fashioned mercury thermometer has about .5 grams of mercury or 500 mg.

Courtesy of Earth LED

The newest kid on the light bulb market is the LED.  LEDs have no toxins or heavy metals.  LEDs are unbelievably efficient.  A 7 watt LED is the equivalent to a 50 to 60 watt incandescent.  LEDs are still very expensive, but they are much cheaper to run.  LEDs are suppose to last 50,000 to 100,000 hours, and cost $6.00 a year to operate.  There are some dimmable LEDs too.

Both CFLs and LEDs are improving in color.  It used to be that both types of bulbs were very cool or bluish hued, but now there are warm spectrum bulbs.

These are just a few of the places you can find LED light bulbs:

EarthLED

LEDbulb

Amazon

Make the switch today from incandescents to efficient bulbs.  It is another switch which will benefit your wallet and the environment.

Filed Under: Energy Efficiency Tagged With: , , , , , ,

Exchange Your Mercury Thermometer

November 9, 2010 By greengirlinc 1 Comment

Photo courtesy of Michigan Department of Community Health

Eau Claire’s Luther Midelfort Hospital is offering a free digital thermometer if you turn in a mercury thermometer. Each family can get one new digital thermometer, and turn in as many mercury thermometers as they like.

If you don’t live in the Eau Claire, WI region then check with your county’s recycling agency or local rubbish/recycling companies.

Luther Midelfort asks people to bring the mercury thermometers in zip-close plastic bags; hopefully you have an old one to reuse.  You can exchange your thermometer from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday until Nov. 19 at the following locations:

  • Midelfort Pharmacy & Home Medical, 325 E. Madison St.
  • Midelfort Pharmacy & Home Medical, 733 W. Clairemont Ave.
  • Midelfort Pharmacy & Home Medical, 2839 Mall Drive
  • Midelfort Medical Store, inside Luther Midelfort, 1400 Bellinger St.
  • Luther Midelfort Express Care, 2839 Mall Drive, Suite 5

To learn more about the thermometer exchange go to Luther Midelfort’s site.

You an also go to Earth 911 for information about where to dispose of mercury-based thermometers.

It is vitally important to keep mercury out of landfills. If mercury finds its way into landfills it can then leach into ground water. Mercury is harmful to people and animals. In humans it causes neurological and organ damage.

Mercury is also dangerous in the home. The Environmental Protection Agency has a page on their site that explains how to clean up a mercury spill in your home. The EPA has information about mercury-based thermometers and dental mercury.

Filed Under: Home Toxins, Recycling Tagged With: , , , , , ,

Recycling CFLs

September 21, 2010 By greengirlinc Leave a Comment

Don’t forget to properly recycle those compact fluorescent light bulbs, or CFLs, when they burn out.  CFLs  contain mercury.  Check with your local recyclers to see if they accept CFLs.  Another resource for information is Earth 911.  At the website, punch in your zip code, and the site will tell you where you can recycle locally, or where you can send your item if you have no local options.

Filed Under: Energy Efficiency, Environment, Recycling Tagged With: , ,