EPA Guide for Efficient Home Lighting

Tweet

In case you didn't know, the government is planning on phasing out those old incandescent light bulbs that we've been using since Edison invented them, and making us replace them with newer, more efficient CFL bulbs. Because the EPA cares so much for the environment and for your health, they offer these simple steps for efficient and safe clean-up should you accidentally break one of these superior bulbs. http://www.epa.gov/cfl/cflcleanup.pdf * Have people and pets leave the room, and avoid the breakage area on the way out. * Open a window or door to the outdoors and leave the room for 5-10 minutes. * Shut off the central forced-air heating/air conditioning system (H&AC), if you have one. * Collect materials you will need to clean up the broken bulb: 1) Stiff paper or cardboard; 2) Sticky tape (e.g., duct tape); 3)Damp paper towels or disposable wet wipes (for hard surfaces); 4) Glass jar with a metal lid (such as a canning jar) or a sealable plastic bag(s) * Carefully scoop up glass fragments and powder using stiff paper or cardboard and place debris and paper/cardboard in a glass jar with a metal lid. If a glass jar is not available, use a sealable plastic bag. (NOTE: Since a plastic bag will not prevent the mercury vapor from escaping, remove the plastic bag(s) from the home after cleanup.) * Use sticky tape, such as duct tape, to pick up any remaining small glass fragments and powder. Place the used tape in the glass jar or plastic bag. * Wipe the area clean with damp paper towels or disposable wet wipes. Place the towels in the glass jar or plastic bag. * Vacuuming of hard surfaces during cleanup is not recommended unless broken glass remains after all other cleanup steps have been taken. (NOTE: It is possible that vacuuming could spread mercury containing powder or mercury vapor, although available information on this problem is limited.) If vacuuming is needed to ensure removal of all broken glass, keep the following tips in mind: 1) Keep a window or door to the outdoors open; 2) Vacuum the area where the bulb was broken using the vacuum hose, if available; and 3) Remove the vacuum bag (or empty and wipe the canister) and seal the bag/vacuum debris, and any materials used to clean the vacuum, in a plastic bag. * Promptly place all bulb debris and cleanup materials, including vacuum cleaner bags, outdoors in a trash container or protected area until materials can be disposed of properly. * Check with your local or state government about disposal requirements in your area. Some states and communities require fluorescent bulbs (broken or unbroken) be taken to a local recycling center. * Wash your hands with soap and water after disposing of the jars or plastic bags containing bulb debris and cleanup materials. * Continue to air out the room where the bulb was broken and leave the AC system shut off, as practical, for several hours. * The next several times you vacuum the rug or carpet, shut off the AC system if you have one, close the doors to other rooms, and open a window or door to the outside before vacuuming. Change the vacuum bag after each use in this area. * After vacuuming is completed, keep the H&AC system shut off and the window or door to the outside open, as practical, for several hours. That's it. Just 14 easy steps. Of course, with those old-fashioned bulbs there was only one step - throw it away. And of course, those old-fashioned bulbs weren't full of a neuro-toxin. And, you didn't need a Haz-Mat team to clean up the house. Has anyone figured out yet why the EPA thinks these are BETTER for the environment?