How Many Tree Huggers Does it Take to Change a Lightbulb

Foolmewunz

Grammar Resistance Leader, TLA Dictator
Foolmewunz
Joined
Aug 11, 2006
Messages
41,468
Location
Pattaya, Thailand
Greenpeace Changes Hong Kong Hotel Bulbs
Source: forbes.com
Greenpeace's activists have recently sneaked into Hong Kong Disneyland Hotel over the weekend and swapped several light bulbs used in two lobby chandeliers with more energy efficient fluorescent ones.

Read the story here:
http://www.forbes.com/feeds/ap/2007/08/27/ap4056434.html?partner=alerts
Click to expand...

Well, in New Zealand, Greenpeace activists get murdered by French spooks!
In Oregon, Greenpeace activists get run down by loggers in trucks!
In the Pacific Ocean, Greenpeace activists get harpooned by whaling ships!

But no one beats our radical activists in Hong Kong.

"Whoa! Dude?!?! You didn't? Man, you changed a couple of lightbulbs! You totall PWND them!!!! "
 
Foolmewunz said:
Well, in New Zealand, Greenpeace activists get murdered by French spooks!
In Oregon, Greenpeace activists get run down by loggers in trucks!
In the Pacific Ocean, Greenpeace activists get harpooned by whaling ships!

But no one beats our radical activists in Hong Kong.

"Whoa! Dude?!?! You didn't? Man, you changed a couple of lightbulbs! You totall PWND them!!!! "
Click to expand...

Funny thing is, they probably accomplished more then the attention seeking jackasses that get run down and harpooned. The impact they had can actually be measured and they did it in a positive way.
 
I read that while fluorescent lights use less energy to operate, they require a great deal more to manufacture. And that they are comprised of more polluting materials than regular light bulbs, and thus when they wear out and get thrown out, are more hazardous.
 
Ohmer said:
Funny thing is, they probably accomplished more then the attention seeking jackasses that get run down and harpooned. The impact they had can actually be measured and they did it in a positive way.
Click to expand...
Wonderfully said - I have no sympathy with/for Eco-terrorists (or any other terrorists).
(Which reminds me, I was very much saddened to hear Bill Maher, on his HBO show: interview, take seriously and call a friend the president of the terrorist supporting PETA (I suspect PETA member of being terrorists, but they clearly have supported same in the kill people, not animals camp (I, by the by, like animals and wish them well I am not anti-animal - I am anti-terrorist, anti-property rights violators, vandals,etc.).
 
TragicMonkey said:
I read that while fluorescent lights use less energy to operate, they require a great deal more to manufacture. And that they are comprised of more polluting materials than regular light bulbs, and thus when they wear out and get thrown out, are more hazardous.
Click to expand...

Quite correct!! I find that amusing - but I am easily amused.:D
 
Mrs. Popa and Yo have a condo that is rented out sort of like hotel style. When it was rented via the "rental pool" we had guests who would steal our energy efficient bulbs. How can I get some of these eco-terrorists to come stay in my condo?
 
TragicMonkey said:
I read that while fluorescent lights use less energy to operate, they require a great deal more to manufacture. And that they are comprised of more polluting materials than regular light bulbs, and thus when they wear out and get thrown out, are more hazardous.
Click to expand...
Nope - it's not quite that simple, TM. But what is? :)

There is no free lunch, currently, for artificial lighting, and we humans definitely seem adamant in demanding artificial light. We could turn off ALL lights for good and that would reduce global warming. We are NOT willing to do that.

CFLs are a decent way to go, for now. They will simply drop the living hell out of your electric bill. Two thirds to three fourths less energy than incandescents. Yes - there is a tiny spot of mercury within - about the amount that is equal to the ink on the point of a pen. I don't like it, and you don't like it. But they can't get these things to fluoresce without that mercury. So - we go with safe disposal.

LED lighting is gaining ground - now of course it produces more heat than the CFLs.

Anyway, incandescents are simply gobblers of energy, equaling more carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.

So we're talking trade-offs, in some regards.
 
According to Consumer Reports, those concerned can buy a box for 14.95!!!!! that you can send a dozen small ones back to be properly de-mercuried in.
 
The mercury is in the coating on the inside of the bulb, it's a relatively easy process to recycle that mercury (grind up the glass, apply heat and collect the mercury vapour by distillation). Some countries have very good systems in place, I believe in Germany the recycling rate for the bulbs is almost 100%.

For US readers this site provides information about recycling your bulbs.
 
The problem is, just like lithium-ion batteries, millions of CFL's will end up in the regular trash, put their by uncaring, ignorant people. (Or just regular people who didn't realize they should not put such objects in the regular trash!:) )
 
cloudshipsrule said:
The problem is, just like lithium-ion batteries, millions of CFL's will end up in the regular trash, put their by uncaring, ignorant people. (Or just regular people who didn't realize they should not put such objects in the regular trash!:) )
Click to expand...

Or people who don't have an option. Recycling for many materials isn't available in many parts of America.
 
Darat said:
The mercury is in the coating on the inside of the bulb, it's a relatively easy process to recycle that mercury (grind up the glass, apply heat and collect the mercury vapour by distillation). Some countries have very good systems in place, I believe in Germany the recycling rate for the bulbs is almost 100%.

For US readers this site provides information about recycling your bulbs.
Click to expand...

What site would that be?



I agree, by the way, that my sense of humor got the better of my logic in the OP. I'm an old picket-sign carrying denizen of the left, and the nature of the "raid" just sort of tickled me when juxtaposed with the usual headlines that Greenpeace gets. And they did actually achieve something insofar as they got the Disney folks to at least publish their policy and make a statement.

Conspiraider... I try working in my office with just external light quite often. A trick I picked up from visiting our Hamburg office where they quite often don't turn on the overheads. It never fails to amaze me that there's plenty of light (I'm facing the harbor, with no obstructions) to work and read, but the lights never remain off for more than twenty minutes. The first person who comes in for a chat or comment in the morning always flicks the wallswitch. I think they believe I'm senile and merely forgot to turn the lights on!

At home, I generally have the lights off if I'm home during the day, also. I've got great huge muthabejumpin 8 foot windows, so even on a gray day like today there's plenty of light to read and work by. But the minute my girlfriend wakes up, she walks around turning on lights. My wise old mom used to refer to the condition as "lighting everything up like the Greyhound Bus station". (I have no idea why she associated bright lights with bus stations, but I still use the expression..... although no one here has any idea what a Greyhound Bus is.)
 
Any hotel I've stayed in, including a small one in Hong Kong, the lobby is open all the time, and there's always someone who could see if people were changing bulbs in the chandelier, presumably with ladders. Is the Disney hotel different?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Back
Top Bottom