The Swine Line

Congress  just loves to micromanage our lives.  Now they are determining the kinds of light bulbs we should use.

One of the provisions in the energy bill that taxpayers are starting to read about is the mandate that bans the incandescent bulb by 2012.  That means consumers will be forced to purchase Compact Fluorescent Light bulbs or CFLs, unless something else comes along.  While CFLs are more expensive to purchase, they are more energy efficient and last longer, saving money in the long run.

Unfortunately, they have other environmental concerns — all CFLs contain mercury.  Take a look at a label the next time you are in the store.  This means more stringent disposal equirements.

Here is a warning from General Electric on cleaning up if you should break one.

What should I do if a CFL breaks?
Because there is such a small amount of mercury in CFLs, your greatest risk if a bulb breaks is getting cut from glass shards. Research indicates that there is no immediate health risk to you or your family should a bulb break and it’s cleaned up properly. You can minimize any risks by following these proper clean-up and disposal guidelines:

• Sweep up—don’t vacuum—all of the glass fragments and fine particles.
• Place broken pieces in a sealed plastic bag and wipe the area with a damp paper towel to pick up any stray shards of glass or fine particles. Put the used towel in the plastic bag as well.
• If weather permits, open windows to allow the room to ventilate.

Well, isn’t that nice.  Is this another example of Congress creating a bigger problem when trying to “fix” something?

You can read more about how to properly use a CFL here.