Eco-Friendly and Endorsed by Media -- CFLs Responsible for House Fire in Maryland

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By Jeff Poor (Bio | Archive)
March 31, 2009 - 16:43 ET
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Remember all those TV segments and magazine articles that had a list of 10 things you can do to save the planet from the perils of global warming? More likely than not, one of things you were urged to do was to switch all you incandescent light bulbs to compact fluorescent bulbs (CFLs).

And, if you didn't heed their advice, the government's forcing you to through the legislative process. Congress banned the incandescent light bulbs in the energy bill signed into law by former President George W. Bush on Dec. 19, 2007. The bill increases efficiency standards and effectively bans traditional bulbs by 2014.

However, a segment by Washington, D.C. CBS affiliated WUSA on March 30 reported these CFLs were responsible for a fire at the home of Rick Jenkins, a resident of Cumberland, Md.

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"Last year, Rick Jenkins and his family raced from a Sunday brunch to find their split-level Cumberland home engulfed in a raging inferno," WUSA's Lesli Foster said. "Jenkins was stunned when investigators told him what sparked those flames - a compact fluorescent bulb connected to a dimmer switch."

According to the report CFLs aren't designed to be used with a dimmer switch - a detail not often disclosed when media sources celebrate how wonderful the soon-to-be government-mandated bulbs are.

"It's not designed to be used with a dimmer switch," Capt. Dale Ednock of the Prince George's County, Md. Fire and EMS Department said to WUSA. "The ballast itself is designed to operate at a specific voltage. If you fluctuate that, it can cause the ballast to fail."

One example of media accolades for the bulbs came on the Jan. 23, 2008 NBC "Today" show on Jan. 23, 2008. All in the name of preventing anthropogenic global warming - the bulbs were featured on the "Today Goes Green" series as one way average Americans can adjust their lives to be more "environmentally friendly."

"If every American home replaced just one incandescent bulb with a CFL, in one year it would save enough energy to light more than three million American homes and prevent greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to those of more than 800,000 cars," co-host Meredith Vieira said.


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Oh this is rich...who is

March 31, 2009 - 16:50 ET by bigtimer

Oh this is rich...who is going to pay any attention though? 

It won't be the majority in congress...unless it happens in their own homes...and they won't be pointing the finger at themselves either.

Doubling down on stupid is not a particularly good idea. ~Andrew Breitbart

Bigtimer

March 31, 2009 - 20:29 ET by DoktorFranken

The people who manufacture them will take notice - the Chinese.  Why waste money on missiles and nuclear war?  Wait until everyone's out shopping or working and burn all of their houses down.

What's Chinese for ''BWAA-HA-HA-HA-HA!!!!'' ?

CFL

March 31, 2009 - 17:34 ET by AnotherFedUpOne

CFL Facts and Disposal can be found here:

http://www.snopes.com/medical/toxins/cfl.asp

Where's the Great Fabricator?

March 31, 2009 - 17:35 ET by dbo

CFLs were responsible for a fire at the home of Rick Jenkins

This could never happen to the home of Sterling because Sterling probably gets his CFL's "refurbished".

Nor are they made for enclosed ceiling fixtures!!

March 31, 2009 - 18:04 ET by Cape Conservative

We had a low voltage CFL in our basement staircase ceiling light.  One evening I kept smelling an electrical burning odor.  When we removed the glass cover, the bulb had 'popped' right at the base connection!  Lesson learned!!!  Thankfully without disaster!

It is no dishonor to be in a minority in the cause of liberty and virtue. ~ Sam Adams

How to clean up a broken fluorescent bulb - just in case..

March 31, 2009 - 18:06 ET by Gary Hall

How to clean up a broken fluorescent bulb - just in case.. you're lucky and your house doesn't burn down.

While the bulbs are extremely energy-efficient, one problem hasn't gone away: All CFLs contain mercury, a neurotoxin that can cause kidney and brain damage.

Before cleanup: Vent the room
1. Open a window and leave the room for 15 minutes or more.
2. Shut off the central forced-air heating/air conditioning system, if you have one.

Cleanup steps for hard surfaces
3. Carefully scoop up glass fragments and powder using stiff paper or cardboard and place them in a glass jar with metal lid (such as a canning jar) or in a sealed plastic bag.
4. Use sticky tape, such as duct tape, to pick up any remaining small glass fragments and powder.
5. Wipe the area clean with damp paper towels or disposable wet wipes and place them in the glass jar or plastic bag.
6. Do not use a vacuum or broom to clean up the broken bulb on hard surfaces.

Cleanup steps for carpeting or rug
3. Carefully pick up glass fragments and place them in a glass jar with metal lid (such as a canning jar) or in a sealed plastic bag.
4. Use sticky tape, such as duct tape, to pick up any remaining small glass fragments and powder.
5. If vacuuming is needed after all visible materials are removed, vacuum the area where the bulb was broken.
6. Remove the vacuum bag (or empty and wipe the canister), and put the bag or vacuum debris in a sealed plastic bag.

Disposal of cleanup materials
7. Immediately place all cleanup materials outside the building in a trash container or outdoor protected area for the next normal trash.
8. Wash your hands after disposing of the jars or plastic bags containing cleanup materials.
9. Check with your local or state government about disposal requirements in your specific area. Some states prohibit such trash disposal and require that broken and unbroken lamps be taken to a recycling center.

Future cleaning of carpeting or rug
10. For at least the next few times you vacuum, shut off the central forced-air heating/air conditioning system and open a window prior to vacuuming.
11. Keep the central heating/air conditioning system shut off and the window open for at least 15 minutes after vacuuming is completed.

Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

Might just be easier to let the house burn down.

You know, when I was a kid

March 31, 2009 - 18:19 ET by mandrake

You know, when I was a kid back in the 50's you could buy mercury at the local hardware store. We use to play with it to turn copper pennies silver. Never did me any harm...harm..harm ..damn there I go again!!ahhh

Power-saw to the people - Dexter

mandrake

March 31, 2009 - 18:36 ET by Gary Hall

Yea (guess we're dating ourselves here). We loved to play with it. I remember the teachers - in the science class - middle school or before - used it to help describe the different states of matter.  They'd pour it in our hands and we'd roll it around. It'd always leave tiny bits of shiny residue behind. Hmm Mmm. Still waiting to drop dead. Gary

Re Uses for Mercury

March 31, 2009 - 19:42 ET by slickwillie2001

Dentists used to fill teeth with a compound that was 50% Mercury.

slickwillie - mercury

March 31, 2009 - 20:17 ET by Gary Hall

Now - it does come back to me. I had a dentist, who developed an extreme reaction to mercury. At one point after becoming very ill, he closed his old office and re-openned a new one - where they did not use any more of the amalgam fillings. He took new careful precautions when drilling in/ removing old amalgam fillings.

It didn't work out. Within a couple of years, he died from the effects of mercury toxicity. He is sorely missed.

BAN CFL bulbs.

When I was a kid..

March 31, 2009 - 20:21 ET by Sergeant ROCK

.. I use to play with abestos and plutonium. 

"I ask, Sir, what is the militia? It is the whole people. To disarm the people is the best and most effectual way to enslave them."
George Mason

Well that would certainly

March 31, 2009 - 20:56 ET by mandrake

Well that would certainly explain your screen name. ;)

I have a few of those bulbs

March 31, 2009 - 18:23 ET by Kat Outta the Bag

I have a few of those bulbs in my house in the fixtures I use most often and yes, it is for "green" purposes...to save me cash on my power bill!

My incandescents are 100%

March 31, 2009 - 19:25 ET by Chad

My incandescents are 100% efficient from October through April. 

Couple that with the additional energy to manufacture this relatively complicated bulb and added shipping (if every little bit didn't count we wouldn't be stuck with 'em) and I'm convinced there is no net gain. ...and have yet to catch fire!

If only liberals could feel good about themselves while doing something useful.

~Chad

Cincinnati, OH

Compact Fluorescent Bulbs INCREASE Greenhouse Gas Emissions

March 31, 2009 - 21:12 ET by PopularTech

It does not get any better than this...

Efficient lighting equals higher heat bills: study (CBC News)

"CBC News has found that in some cases compact fluorescent bulbs (CFLs) can have the adverse effect of increasing greenhouse gas emissions, depending on how consumers heat their homes.

In fact, a recent report by BC Hydro estimates new lighting regulations will increase annual greenhouse gas emissions in British Columbia by 45,000 tonnes annually as consumers use more energy to heat their homes after switching to more energy efficient - but cooler - lighting."

But hey lets ban light bulbs to make ourselves "feel" good. That is what the environmental movement is selling, "feeling" good while actually doing nothing or in this case the opposite of their intentions.

Carbon Dioxide (CO2) is Not Pollution

Irony: California to increase Mercury Pollution using CFL Bulbs

March 31, 2009 - 19:52 ET by PopularTech

Are We Trading Energy Conservation for Toxic Air Emissions? (Yale University)

"But much of South America, Africa, the Middle East and parts of Europe, along with Alaska, California, Oregon, Idaho and several New England states, would actually increase their mercury emissions by making the switch from incandescent to fluorescent lighting."

I love the irony.

Carbon Dioxide (CO2) is Not Pollution

Hate the bulbs

April 1, 2009 - 07:10 ET by Blogger Guy00001

Those damned bulbs are a disaster! I had one burn out with a loud sputtering noise and a pop. It had blackened from sparks or heat, and done the same to the fixture. Luckily the fixture did not catch fire.

They don't fit in or work in all fixtures.

There are no compact bulbs for refrigerators or ovens. There are no "night light" compact bulbs. If used outside, they crack and split in very cold weather.

The people who voted for the law that requires these things should be voted out of office!

 

Burning Homes are Bad for the Atmosphere

April 1, 2009 - 07:52 ET by freecitizen

I'm guessing the carbon released into the atmosphere from this man's burning home far outweighs any miniscule carbon conservation that they claim from using CFL's.  The incandescent bulb is brilliant in its simplicity.  Why muck about with a complex substandard replacement.

Depends

April 1, 2009 - 10:02 ET by km2002

There are CFLs out there that are designed to work with dimmers. I've seen 'em on the shelves. About 3x the price of regular CFLs. Also, CFLs have a problem with photosensitive switches, such as the one on the post lamp in my front yard. If the mfr certifies the switch will work w/CFLs, it should, should  being the operative word. Blew out maybe 3 CFLs ... which -- horrors! -- I threw out like normal household trash ... before I realized I had a defective unit. Swapped it out, haven't blow a CFL yet.

None of that means I condone the actions of the previous Congress/administration for foisting these problem children upon us. BTW, has anyone else noticed that the treehuggers who were conspicuous by their absence when CFLs were being debated in Congress are now quietly lining up to sue the $#!+ out of the rest of us for swallowing this crap?

Re Depends

April 1, 2009 - 12:44 ET by slickwillie2001

They also don't work with some of the timers on the market, which depend on the leakage current through an incandescent filament to run themselves. They also might not work in outdoor applications where it gets cold in the winter, even Georgia-style cold.

As others have pointed out, they shouldn't be used in enclosures, which eliminates a possible killer app. If you have some of those fixtures that are just not bright enough but the sticker inside says '60W max', a CFL that puts out the equivalent light of 100W or more but at a much lower current would have solved the problem, if you could use it in an enclosure.