Mindzle

Posts Tagged ‘mls’

Welcome back, if you haven't already, you might want to subscribe to my RSS feed. Thanks for visiting!

If you ask for motives for starting to use the fluorescent light bulbs instead of the traditional ones, you usually get two answers: the new type of light bulbs is 1) eco-friendly and 2) pocket-friendly at the same time. The fluorescent bulbs are economical in several ways: they can be used up to ten times a longer time than the “normal” bulbs, and the amount of emanated heat is smaller, therefore there is less air conditioning necessary, which is significant mostly for large offices. Furthermore, the environmental bulbs need three times less energy than the “old” ones, which helps to save both the environment and your budget.

Except for running a Toronto lisitngs agency, I’m always looking for ways to make my lifestyle a bit more greener. Most customers are not experts and may feel that the selection of environmental light bulbs is very wide, making it very difficult to choose the right one. The following guidelines should make the process much easier and nicer experience.

Mr. Bulb Right

If you are not certain about the right type of bulb you need, the best idea would be to bring your old light bulb with you so that you can make sure the shape and size matches. You will only need one-quarter of the original wattage (60 watt traditional bulb = 15 watt environmental bulb). It is important to read the label carefully, especially if you want to put your new bulb in a dimmer light – not all types of light bulbs are suitable for dimmers.

The perfect spot for your new bulb

Think about the place where you are going to use the new bulb – if it is too warm with no or little air circulation, the environmental bulb won’t be a good choice here (for example in recessed ceiling fixtures). It is also important to take into account the fact that the fluorescent bulb needs one to three minutes to start functioning fully and it is not good to switch it on and off too frequently. So the environmental bulbs are best to be used in rooms where the light usually stays on for at least 15 minutes, otherwise the bulb could get destroyed too early.

How to dispose of fluorescent bulbs

Fluorescent light bulbs should be recycled at all times. The environmental bulbs contain mercury, a dangerous heavy-metal. If broken, do not vacuum. You also shouldn’t touch it with bare hands. Instead, try to sweep the mercury bits with a piece of cardboard. Pick up smaller bits with sticky tape and wipe the affected area with a damp cloth. Open the window for at least 15 minutes to avoid mercury exposure.