City Newspaper Archives - 10/2007
ENVIRONMENT: Fluorescents' problems
Published on Oct 23, 2007
I enjoyed most of the tips in your article, "Easy Being Green" (October 3).
However, there is a dark side to the push for fluorescent bulbs. The claim is that they will save rainforests and polar ice by using less energy. Unfortunately, these bulbs are made with mercury. That means that in approximately five years, we will be sitting on a potentially catastrophic situation as the bulbs make it to the landfill. These bulbs are not as innocent as people would like to believe.
The real instruction should be: keep your incandescents, but reduce energy consumption. There is no need to leave on computers or lights all night. The stars we saw as children are no longer in sight, hidden by light pollution.
LAURIE KASH
ROCHESTER
