Mercury myth vs. CFLs
Some of you kindly (note the sarcasm) mentioned the problem with CFLs is the mercury content and that I didn’t discuss that in my last blog entry. So, I’ve taken the criticism to heart and the result is the Environmental Smack Down Challenge.
Environmental Smack Down Diva (ESDD): *in best announcer voice* Welcome to the Environmental Smack Down Challenge. I’m your host, Environmental Smack Down Diva. Before we begin, let me introduce you to our contenders.
(ESDD gestures to one corner.)
ESDD: In this corner we have CFLs and huge amounts of energy savings!
(ESDD gestures to another corner.)
ESDD: And in this corner we have the big bad and brawny Mercury myth! They’ve skirmished. Fought. Passed out. And resurfaced, and today they meet again for the final smackdown. CFLs, Mercury myth, take your places.
(CFLs and Mercury myth meet in the middle of the ring, shake hands, square off.)
ESDD: Just to go over a few rules - no hanky panky, no shattering glass, and no spilled mercury. We want a clean fight here. You know the rest!
Bell: DING!
ESDD: Mercury myth pulls a newspaper out of his glove, The Ellsworth American, and tosses it to CFLs.
Mercury myth: Take that! Mercury levels in that broken bulb were over 6 times the normal level.
ESDD: Mercury myth references an article about a woman who received a $2k estimate for cleaning up a broken CFL.
CFLs: You’ll have to do better than that to take me down. I have this!
ESDD: CFLs throws down the gauntlet! It’s an official-looking report!
CFLs: The analysis numbers from Maine! The mercury levels were only high where the bulb shattered, and even that dissipated to normal levels over a short amount of time. I’d say that trumps your lousy and outdated article!
ESDD: CFLs brandishes the report in Mercury myth’s face. It’s a report from the government of Maine that lists the mercury levels found at the woman’s house after she broke a CFL. The results were within normal limits except for the area where the bulb shattered. But further tests showed mercury levels returned to normal levels before a second test was completed. Mercury myth can’t take the proof and falls to his knees!
Mercury myth: B-but Energy Star says you have to recycle CFLs. It’s so much work and people are so lazy! Plus, you have to take special precautions if you break one!
ESDD: CFLs is hovering over Mercury myth. It looks like…, yes…, CFLs is delivering his famous knockout punch!
CFLs: [swings] You’re done for Mercury myth! Energy benefits far outweigh your measly mercury levels, so says Australia, Ontario, and treehuggers everywhere!
ESDD: You heard it here folks, the energy savings for CFLs is higher than the risk of mercury. Just remember to dispose of your CFLs properly and be careful if you break one. CFLs have a long life, so when it comes time for you to replace your bulbs in the next few years, use Energy Star’s guidelines. This is Environmental Smack Down Diva saying Good night and good recycling.