From PCPC’s e-newsletter #6, April 2, 2009
Replacing older, single-pane windows with new double- or triple-glazed units can save energy if they are installed to include air-leakage control around the frame. However, you can get almost as many savings by adding storm windows as you can with new double-glazed windows, at a fraction of the cost. Again, pay close attention to air-sealing when improving older windows. When it comes time to buy new windows, pay more for more efficient units. Over the long-term, the up-front cost will pay for itself in efficiency gains, and reduced energy use!
Should I be concerned about mercury exposure from compact fluorescent lights (CFLs)?
Fluorescent lamps (those long glass tubes) and compact fluorescent bulbs (the ones that can look like a soft-serve ice scream cone) both require the use of mercury for proper functioning, and should the glass tube of either break, the mercury could be released into the environment, possibly leading to mercury exposure – but that’s the bad news!
The good news, on the other hand, is that CFLs on average contain only 4 milligrams of mercury (compared to about 500 milligrams in older thermometers and anywhere from 3,000 to 20,000 milligrams in most non-electric thermostats), which is enclosed within the durable glass bulb. Manufacturers are aware of this concern and they continue to find ways to decrease this number through advances in CFL technology. However, some mercury is still more than no mercury, so the EPA also put together a detailed guide about the proper disposal and clean-up procedures should a fluorescent light break (to view the EPA disposal and clean-up guide, visit: www.epa.gov/bulbrecycling or www.earth911.com to find local recycling options).
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