Re: Caution About Compact Fluorescent Lighting (CFL) EDITED

I totally agree --- I see the stores are all stocked up with these CFL lights lately. Imagine if some hardware store stocked with these bulbs caught on fire, with all that mercury vaporizing out from the heat, it wouldnt be too safe for the community. Every day you hear of someone in our local news whose home was destroyed by a house fire. More mercury would be vaporizing all over the community from destroyed, crushed CFL bulbs.



I will not use them either. I am stuck with working 8 hours a day in an office with all flourescent lighting and NO windows for outside sun to come in. We only get 2 five minute breaks and 1 thirty minute lunch break-- not a generous amount of time permitted outside to absorb the afternoon Sun! So you can imagine how I'm not very thrilled about the upcoming phasing out of incandescent bulbs- while they push these CFL's on us.

The electric companies are also trying to seek a compromise with our US. government-- by requesting if they may still be permitted to manufacture 40 watt or lower incandescent bulbs, etc. once the final phase out takes place. Not sure when the exact timetable for that is, but I recall hearing something about 2009 - 2012 for this phase out.

My advice for everyone-- (especially you folks living in the Northern US - like Alaska and North East-- where yearly Sunshine is greatly lacking compared with Southern California) is to start buying low wattage 40 watt or lower full spectrum bulbs now, or at least the average bulb that is made to look similar to the spectrum of sunlight. General Electric, Phillips, etc, all make them. One brand that comes to mind is "Reveal"--- they are not expensive. I just got a pack of 4 for $1.99 made by Phillips.

Pick up a nice low wattage lamp-- like one of those Himalayan Salt lamps (they take a 40 watt or less candelabra bulb). Place them in front of a mirror for more light. The light glowing from within the salt lamps is very therapuetic and soothing after being stuck under flourescent bulbs at my job all day long.

Chromalux also makes full spectrum regular type bulbs that last longer than average light bulbs. Our healthfood sells these, but I believe you can also order them on discount at Vitamin Shoppe.



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