Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

[dave.m]

OK, so you are saving energy and thus saving the planet! 
But what do you now do with low energy bulbs once they are done, kaput, dead? 
You cannot recycle them in with the glass. 
You cannot ditch them in the non-recycled rubbish. 

Interesting read and one that I don't think the government has given much thought to yet. 
 http://www.sepa.org.uk/pdf/guidance/waste/swan/SWAN01.pdf

It will, obviously, start costing a lot of money (the money that you have pocketed using low energy bulbs) to dispose of the blasted things and (this is not the Friday quiz) but guess who will be paying.   

dave

[Accordion]

AAArrrrggghhjhhh!!!!!

Now what do we do???

[kitz]

>> You cannot ditch them in the non-recycled rubbish. 

You can't?

Whoops 

---

Saying that though dave - I also recently redid my kitchen therefore had an old  fluorescent strip light which was too big for the wheelies  I just took it to the local tip with a pile of other stuff.  I noticed that they had a small pile of them on one side.

[Astral]

The problem is the mercury in florescent tubes and low energy bulbs. As far as I know they haven't thought out what they are going to do about the problem. Plus ca change....

[Achilles Last Stand]

How long are they supposed to last?

The two which were in situ when we moved in six years ago are still alive and well 

[kitz]

>> How long are they supposed to last?

Dunno but Ive got one in the downstairs loo which has been there from the previous occupant.  I moved in here 8 years ago 

[Astral]

Very variable in my experience.

Of course they last long enough for you to throw the box and receipt away so that you can't go back to the shop and complain.

[kitz]

lol - talking of which I called in at our local Morrisons.  Having been "nil by mouth" since midnight last night I was a bit peckish but feeling too lazy to want to cook when I got in so went to their sandwich bar and quick till.

By the till was an assistant stoking up a pile of energy efficient lightbulbs for 39p.  The assistant stocking them up wasn't paying full attention and was chatting to a collegue and I watched as about a dozen or so went crashing on the floor.

Wonder how long those ones will last? 

I notice the price has come down a lot - 39p may have been a special offer but I can remember them being about £7.99 once upon a time.

[Astral]

I've seen them for less than a squid in Tesco and that wasn't a special offer.

[mr_chris]

39p is a VERY good price... I might go and have a look in the morning...

[kitz]

>>>  I might go and have a look in the morning...

Just dont get any from the rack next to the "quick till".

[mr_chris]

lol ok thanks

[kitz]

>> I've seen them for less than a squid in Tesco and that wasn't a special offer.

Must admit that the £7.99 price was a loong time ago.   I havent bought any in ages as the last ones I got were freebies from my electric co.

[tickmike]

When I first built this house (20 years ago) these were just coming out so we decided to use them.   

 The first ones (Philips ) were about 3" dia. and about 8" long and were quite heavy and had a starter switch like you do for a larger Fluorescent lamp, but built inside the base. Some of these only lasted a few weeks     so I took them back to the shop and they exchanged them, but others are still working .
We ran the local village shop for 11 years and I used the General Electric ones ( these had electronic starter switches )  in the outside lights that came on with a time switch each night (small print on the box said not to be used with a time switch .. Tuff I did ) these did not last long, so I sent them back to GE and they would send me a box of 4 new ones.   
My sister in law gave me 4 new ones yesterday her local council give them away . I see these are "longlife12 years".

If you do have any that fail, send an email (via there web site ) to the manufacturers and they will send you a new one  (or more) . 

Michael.

[fudgem]

I probably shouldn't confess this,  but I don't have any (apart from the strip light in the kitchen - does that count?)

I have allowed myself to be put off because people say they don't give as good a light, take time to warm up so you tend to leave them on, I did know about the mercury and recycling bit as well.  All you who have them, do you find any problem with the light they give?  I absolutely hate sitting in semi darkness, even though the soft lamplight hides my wrinkles better