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On Demand

Green Light

Tuesday, December 25, 2007

Jennifer Bogo, senior science editor at Popular Mechanics magazine, and architectural lighting designer Gary Gordon, on why and how people can use compact fluorescent lightbulbs (CFLs).

Popular Mechanics tested a number of CFLs, and you can read their findings here. For more about how and where to recycle CFLs, go to lamprecycle.org. For information about recycling CFLs in New York City, go here.


Comments

  • [1] Jessica Bosanko from West Harlem December 25, 2007 - 10:46AM

    I find the complaints about CFLs to be extremely disheartening. My partner and I (two women!) use CFLs in all our lighting fixtures and have no problem with them whatsoever. I realize other people see a difference, but I really don't think that difference is substantial, and rather, people expect not to have to make any adjustment to their lives. If we hold every decision that is supposed to change our daily habits like energy use to a "must not have any noticeable impact on my lifestyle" than we will never get anywhere.

    For some people, switching their lights might be a sacrifice, but on the range of sacrifices it is so infinitesimally small. I fear for our ability to adjust our lifestyles in the face of major environmental challenges if we can't even manage to change a light bulb.


  • [2] Mark from Washington Heights December 25, 2007 - 10:51AM

    Jennifer is an accomplished person. She also has an annoying tone of voice. I lose the import of her words halfway through her sentences because her voice is like fingernails on a blackboard.


  • [3] DaveA from NYC December 25, 2007 - 11:31AM

    I wish there was more imformation about the unhealthy radiation that is emitted by fluorescent lamps.

    I'm also very interested in knowing about the unhealthy effect of white and blue LEDS called BlueLight Hazard, which frankly sounds like a very bad long term effect from both direct and reflected blue and white LED wavelengths.

    If anyone has more information on these two subjects please share it or links to it. If you haven't heard of either issues, perhaps you may want to look into them yourselves because it doesn't appear to just be crank imfo.


  • [4] jd from nyc December 25, 2007 - 04:24PM

    re: bluelight hazard

    never heard of that name per se, but since the color cones in your eyes have the complete rainbow spectrum, overusing the red and blue exclusively can tire your eyes [and brain] out.

    if there is a choice between old fashioned flourescents with the limited color spectrum, and i believe there are newer ones out there with a [more] complete spectrum that are more expensive [obviously], the latter is more preferable. I think that realgoods.com is a good place to start. they have a great range of stuff, including solar items as well.


  • [5] Amy from Manhattan December 26, 2007 - 02:11AM

    Brian said there'd be a link to a site w/info on special facilities for recycling of CFLs, but I don't see it, either on this segment's page or on the main show page. Where is it? I definitely want to recycle mine!


  • [6] Raul from Seattle December 26, 2007 - 10:06AM

    7 years ago I replaced every bulb in my house with the best and most expensive compact fluorescents and they have been fabulous. No one that has ever been to our house has ever complained.

    They look good and they DO dim with STANDARD dimmers. Gary Gordon is wrong, you don't need a special dimmer, but you do have to pay extra for the hard to find dimmable CFLs.

    The cheap, low grade CFLs have set the adoption rate way back.


  • [7] BL Producer from WNYC December 26, 2007 - 11:30AM

    Amy and others -

    We've inserted the link above. Thanks for the heads up.

    Best,

    -BL Show-


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