| FAQs |
Full 8-Minute Power
Down Challenge Video |
Public
Outreach Events |
CFL Store in NYC |
Energy
Stars |
then scroll through the available videos and look for this image:
Voting opens on September 17th!
The full, 8 minute, version is available below.
Public Outreach
As part of the public outreach part of the project, the students participated in Project Porchlight, giving out free compact flourescent bulbs and Power Down Challenge brochures at the Blairstown Farmer's Market on July 9th, Liberty Township Community Day on July 30th and making a presentation for the public at the Liberty Township Environmental Commission meeting on June 9th. There are photographs from the three events below.
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FAQs
One of the most frequent questions people asked about Compact Fluorsecent lights was: "What about the mercury in these lights?"Chris Trainor (Amricorp's Watershed Ambassador, 2011) sent us this link from the Energy Star folks (EPA) which explains (emphasis added by Phil):
Do CFLs contain mercury?CFLs contain a very small amount of mercury sealed within the glass tubing – an average of 4 milligrams (mg). Bycomparison, older thermometers contain about 500 milligrams of mercury – an amount equal to the mercury in125 CFLs. Mercury is an essential part of CFLs; it allows the bulb to be an efficient light source. No mercury isreleased when the bulbs are intact (not broken) or in use.Most makers of light bulbs have reduced mercury in their fluorescent lighting products. Thanks to technology advances and a commitment from members of the National Electrical Manufacturers Association, the average mercury content in CFLs has dropped at least 20 percent or more in the past several years. Some manufacturers have even made further reductions, dropping mercury content to 1 mg per light bulb. What are mercury emissions caused by humans?EPA estimates the U.S. is responsible for the release of 103 metric tons of mercury emissions each year. More than half of these emissions come from coal-fired electrical power. Mercury released into the air is the main way that mercury gets into water and bio-accumulates in fish. (Eating fish contaminated with mercury is the main way for humans to be exposed.)Most mercury vapor inside fluorescent light bulbs becomes bound to the inside of the light bulb as it is used. EPA estimates that the rest of the mercury within a CFL – about 11 percent2 – is released into air or water when it is sent to a landfill, assuming the light bulb is broken. Therefore, if all 272 million CFLs3 sold in 2009 were sent to a landfill (versus recycled, as a worst case) – they would add 0.12 metric tons, or 0.12 percent, to U.S. mercury emissions caused by humans. |
http://www.energystar.gov/ia/partners/promotions/change_light/downloads/Fact_Sheet_Mercury.pdf
Energy Stars
The group got mentioned in a
very positive article by Brittany Gordon of Energy Star.
You can view the article here (you do not need to have a Facebook account to view this.)
You can view the article here (you do not need to have a Facebook account to view this.)
CFL Store in NYC
This is also interesting - about a store in NYC that sells bulbs, and has some great facts about Compact Flouorescent (CFL) bulbs - did you know they come in 6 colors?For an in depth discussion of
CFLs and
the law that will phase out inefficient light bulbs this coming
January, listen to this edition of Science
Friday, from NPR.