Avoid using GAS and ELECTRIC !

ceridwen

...but please DONT get those energy-saving light bulbs. Even the Government is now backtracking on them and telling people what safety precautions to take if one of them breaks:
- leave the room for at least 15 minutes
- use rubber gloves to pick up the pieces
- wear a mask whilst doing so
etc


reason - they have mercury in them!

So - as you were on that one - and stock up on conventional lightbulbs - believe I'm right in thinking shops will stop selling them some time THIS year.

mary43

originally posted by ceridwen

reason - they have mercury in them!

I never knew that ! And I've got them most places around the house now ! So far none have broken thank goodness. Thought I was doing the right thing at the time. Oh lor............what do I do ? Leave the ones I've got till they're life's over or change them all straight away ?

ceridwen

well.... to put in my usual thing of "I personally"..... I personally am going to change my energysaver lightbulbs right now, rather than wait for them to go. Its a small chance I know - but I'm told anecdotally they can crack and start leaking before they stop working. I cant answer as to the likelihood of this happening personally - but I personally am just playing cautious and planning on whipping them out pretty sharpish.

mary43

Troublle is I've got quite a few new ones still in the cupboard. Can just see OH's face if I say to get rid of them and buy ordinary when he''s trying to cut corners and save a few pounds here and there..................... He'll say 'well they're ok at the minute' and would rather wait till they give up the ghost ..................but I could sneakily change a couple every week...........bet he would never notice...................lol

ceridwen

We....l....l.. there is a time and a place sometimes for being a little "creative" in how one does things mary43...."slowly slowly catchee monkee" in this case I think....and he'll probably never notice them vanishing gradually.

Fruball

ceridwen wrote: »

...but please DONT get those energy-saving light bulbs. Even the Government is now backtracking on them and telling people what safety precautions to take if one of them breaks:
- leave the room for at least 15 minutes
- use rubber gloves to pick up the pieces
- wear a mask whilst doing so
etc


reason - they have mercury in them!

So - as you were on that one - and stock up on conventional lightbulbs - believe I'm right in thinking shops will stop selling them some time THIS year.

:eek: :eek: :eek: That is scary - I hadn't heard that and have energy saving ones in the babies room - will take it out tomorrow.

Thanks for the warning

purplegirluk1

Hey everyone,

I have had a look through the thread and have picked up some great tips. I have a question though, my OH and I are about to move from a central heated flat to a night storage heated, electricity only flat. We are expecting a baby so need to keep the temp good. We will use economy 7 but can anyine tell me how much we should expect to pay? It is two bed, basement flat, part double glazed, the heaters are probably 15 yrs old but work well.

Does anyone have any storage heater tips? Thanks,

Purplegirl

kethry

ceridwen wrote: »

...but please DONT get those energy-saving light bulbs.

ceridwen: yes, they do have mercury in them, but a very small amount. Please see here for full info.

From Greenpeace: "Rather than being worried about the mercury these light bulbs contain, the general public should be reassured that using them will actually reduce the amount of mercury overall in our atmosphere."

From the lighting association:"Fluorescent strips, like the ones used in garages and kitchens, also contain mercury and have been used for many years without poisoning anyone."

From the BBC: "It is important to remember that there is no need to panic if a light bulb breaks. You have just as much chance of being hurt by a tin of tuna than you have of being hurt by your eco-friendly bulb."

I personally don't see any reason for the mercury content to stop anyone using the environmentally friendly lightbulb. I would follow the instructions the Environment agency has given, and get children/pregnant ladies/the ill and/or elderly out of the room until after it was all cleared up.

*shrugs*.. its a personal thing though.

keth
xx

p.s. its 2011, when they hope to have the incandescent bulb phased out. And even then, some people will probably still be able to get it - the kind of people that can't deal with the other lightbulbs for medical reasons.

ceridwen

...but if even the Government is giving these warnings about how to clean them up safely....!! Well - I dont want them. I know its going to be a couple of years before conventional light bulbs are phased out - but, as I understand, the shops will stop selling them THIS year.

As for those people who have skin conditions aggravated by energy-saving light bulbs - do we trust the Govt enough to assume that they will ensure conventional light bulbs will still be available for them to buy?

angela110660

this is a very interesting thread but sad really. heard on the radio the other day that we have the highest fuel poverty and issues for our elderly in all Europe - more than even the Scandinavian countries where it gets REALLY cold.
Also, if anyone else has been to one of those Victorian living museums eg Beamish; they tell you that the poor spent most of their pay on warmth and light - coal and candles. Not much has changed has it?!