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Welcome to DuaneMark.com! Here, you will learn critical information on natural building materials and innovative construction solutions through free articles and ideas and links to Duane's books.

Here is May's "Tip of the Month" to start you off!

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Efficiency and economy is not always what it seems. The new compact florescent light bulbs are purported to save energy costs, which is very true but in the small print in a lower corner, if you stand in bright light (not light provided by a CFL) and squint or use a magnifier, you will see a warning; it reads something like this:


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WARNING! If you accidentally break a CFL bulb exit the room for at least twenty minutes to allow the the contents of the bulb to settle to the floor. The contents of this bulb has been determined to be hazardous to the lungs and and your health. KEEP OUT OF REACH OF CHILDREN!

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In most cases that I have checked, clean-up instructions are not included but here is what I have been told by Hazmat. DO NOT SWEEP! Wear a dust mask for all clean-up. If the debris is on carpet, vacuum briefly. Do not allow the vacuum to work too long. It will blow the fine dust back out. Empty the collector immediately into a plastic bag and seal. If the breakage is on a tile or other hard surface floor, use a damp paper towel or disposable cloth to push the powder and glass onto a dust pan or cardboard and carefully empty into a plastic trash bag and seal. Wash the remaining powder from carpet or hard surface floor.
 
After several accidental breaking, I have found the safest way to handle these bulbs is to cover the bulb with a small plastic bag before removing or inserting and use the bag to turn in or out the bulb. In any event, use extreme caution when handling these bulbs. After all, even though they are smaller, they are still florescent tubes, filled with Mercury and other hazardous material.