Free, free, get them free

The new Seattle CAN (Climate Action Now) campaign asks us all to take a few simple steps, such as using energy-saving compact fluorescent light bulbs. You can get one free today by going to any of the following:
–The WS kickoff event for Seattle CAN featuring Hizzoner, KC Councilmember Dow C, Sustainable West Seattle, Delridge Neighborhoods Development Association, the Delridge councils, Chief Sealth HS, performers, and a lot more, at Youngstown Arts Center, 9 am-1 pm (info provided by SWS includes notes about refreshments @ 9, the mayor speaking @ 9:30, and a biodiesel demo @ 9:45)
–Public libraries around the city, including the four here in WS (Delridge, High Point, Southwest, West Seattle, all open 10-6 today according to those branch websites) – 1 PM UPDATE, we just stopped by the WS branch to get one, and the people manning the Seattle CAN table there told us they are there until 4.

N September 22, 2007 (11:31 am)

You know what – I call b.s. on compact flourescent lightbulbs. The light from them sucks – it just does. That’s a non-trivial thing during our light-deficient winters here in Seattle. Last year, I swapped out my incandescents with “high quality” CFLs. That lasted about a week before I couldn’t take it anymore. Then of course I realize all these lousy CFLs contain mercury so I need to take them to a special disposal facility.

When energy efficient LEDs are ready for primetime in the home, that’s where I’m putting my money. Until then, I’m discouraging everyone I know from using CFLs.

Keith September 22, 2007 (12:36 pm)

I totally get your Sting reference, WSB.

WSB September 22, 2007 (12:51 pm)

Keith, thanks, we were going to start the post with “apologies to Sting” but then thought, nah, if someone gets it, great, if not, it sort of makes sense anyway. N — your comment about the mercury worried us, having just picked up our free bulb at the WS Library moments ago, so we looked online and found this info. However, the fact you can’t throw them in the trash, and can’t put them out with city recycling, is a little daunting. Along with the bulbs, the folks at the library were offering several brochures including one titled “Recycle your fluorescent bulbs and tubes” with information on where to do that. Reminds us kind of the trouble we’ve gone through trying to properly dispose of our old computers, which as a result are sitting in the basement.

Under_Achiever September 22, 2007 (1:03 pm)

If used in the right application CFL lamps are the way to go.

But be careful with CFL lamps — you cannot safely use a dimmer switch, it takes 3-5 minutes for them to come up to full brightness after switching them on, it shortens their life if you turn them on and off a lot and they are probably not suitable for installation in recessed down lights.

I’ve got 2 of ’em installed in my house — both in fixtures on the outside of the garage. The each consume 26 watts of power and produce the approximate amount of light as a 150watt incandescent light bulb. They are on anywhere from 8 – 14 hours a day depending on the season and the savings in both power and replacement incandescent light bulbs is significant.

chas redmond September 22, 2007 (1:12 pm)

It needs follow-up, but one of the programs the Seattle Climate Action Now team pitched to Sustainable West Seattle was the idea that all 13 of the neighborhood service centers would have disposal bins for compact fluorescent lights, for lithium and cadmium batteries (the rechargeables), and for ink cartridges from everyone but Epson (Epson uses a dumb ink cartridge and only contains plastic, Canon, Lexmark, H-P and the others use a smart ink cartridge which contains traces of toxic metals along with the plastic). The city would run this program and eventually make it available in the libraries. Like I said, this requires follow-up to see if SeattleCAN matches its deeds with its words.

Jan September 22, 2007 (1:52 pm)

WSB….about those computers in your basement…check out http://www.interconnection.org

It’s on N. Pacific in Seattle, and they want used computers, and will refurbish them…their website tells what they are doing with them…and the savings that refurbishing provides…

Charla Mustard-Foote September 22, 2007 (2:03 pm)

I started calling to find out about disposal — the cheapest I could fine was $1.50 per bulb. That’s definitely daunting. I’ve gotten used to the dimmer light (and, on a good day, I think of it as romantic) but when they start burning out, I’ll be a little stunned. Does anyone know *why* it costs that much? I can’t help thinking someone somewhere is taking advantage. :-)

Under_Achiever September 22, 2007 (2:27 pm)

The CFLs used in non-commercial applications have a ballast (transformer) in the base where the socket is that contains trace amounts of heavy metals. Also, a tiny droplet of mercury inside the glass part to enable the light bulb to fluoresce.

44th & Graham September 22, 2007 (4:59 pm)

ikea takes your old CFLs for free.

Benjamin September 24, 2007 (12:10 pm)

When I found out what a hassle it was to recycle CFLs, I though neighborhood-based CFL recycling would be a great way to encourage people to do the right thing with their old bulbs. I’m pretty sure that most people don’t know they shouldn’t put used CFLs in the trash, and even if they did know, they are unlikely to know and follow the process for recycling them. Providing a visible and local way to do the right thing would probably have a huge impact on keeping mercury out of our landfills.

Regarding the quality of light from CFLs, you can now purchase several different “temperatures” of CFL lights, some of which look a lot more like good-old incandescents. I bought some 2700k CFLs and liked them a lot more than typical 5000k ones.

Finally, regarding dimmers, there are special CFL bulbs that can work with dimmer switch. I’m not sure how hard they are to find, but Home Depot seemed to have quite a wide variety of CFL bulbs last time I was there.

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