CFL's or the funny bulbs :Good or Bad?

              CFL stands for Compact Fluorescent Lamp better know as the "swirly bulb" or other names. It's pretty much all there is to buy these days. The reason for that is the Incandescent Light Bulb Ban. Congress and President BUSH passed the Law as part of the Energy Bill that raised auto fuel efficiency standards by 40 percent in 2007. It bans the use of Incandescent light bulbs in a gradual phase out by 2014. (100 watts in 2012 start it out) According to the chairman of the House and Energy Commission John Dingell (Dem-Mich) " The legislation will boost the energy efficiency of almost ever significant product and tool and appliance that we use, from light bulbs to light trucks". This ban forces the consumer to use the "new" CFL's, this is both a good Idea and a bad one.
               The good. CFL's use 75% less energy and last a lot longer than regular bulbs. The price has good down since their creation in 1973 to combat the "old" Energy crisis. China has become the major producer of the bulbs. Personally I have replaced all of the lights in our apartment with CFL's. It has had a noticeable effect on the power bill. For those with electrical power limitations the bulbs are a good investment. You get 60 watts of light for about 10 watts of power. My lease states that I'm not to put higher than a 60 watt in any fixture. Using CFL's allows me to use brighter lights than a 60 watt incandescent bulb.
               The Bad.   CFL's contain mercury with is like a mini"Toxic" Bomb right in your house. The EPA is recommending the use of CFL's to save energy but at the same time is having to deal with the results. Mercury is a Neurotoxin that can damage small children, fetuses, and the soil. For most mercury poisoning happens when pregnant women eat too much Seafood. When these bulbs break they spread the mercury around. The EPA guidelines for cleaning up a broken bulb are almost comical if they were not completely serious.

"Before Clean-up: Ventilate the Room

Have people and pets leave the room, and don't let anyone walk
through the breakage area on their way out.
1.Open a window and leave the room for
2. 15 minutes or more.
Shut off the central forced-air heating/air conditioning system, if you
have one.

Clean-Up 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.
7.
Clean-up Steps for Carpeting or Rug

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.
8.
Use sticky tape, such as duct tape, to pick up any remaining small
glass fragments and powder.
9.
If vacuuming is needed after all visible materials are removed,
vacuum the area where the bulb was broken.
10.
Remove the vacuum bag (or empty and wipe the canister), and put
the bag or vacuum debris in a sealed plastic bag.
11.
Disposal of Clean-up Materials
Immediately place all cleanup materials outside the building in a
trash container or outdoor protected area for the next normal trash.
12.
Wash your hands after disposing of the jars or plastic bags containing
clean-up materials.
13.
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 mercury-containing
bulbs be taken to a local recycling center.
14.
Future Cleaning of Carpeting or Rug: Ventilate the Room
During and After Vacuuming
The next several times you vacuum, shut off the central forced-air
heating/air conditioning system and open a window prior to
vacuuming.
15.
Keep the central heating/air conditioning system shut off and the
window open for at least 15 minutes after vacuuming is completed."

Many states have banned the practice of just throwing away the bulbs. Many trash removers will not take them. Few recycling centers can deal with them. So far only IKEA and HOME DEPOT will take them back for recycling. WAL-MART refuses to comment and will not even discuss the issue.  There are a few online services you can use. EARTH 911 will help you find a place to recycle. Use the keyword CFL and your Zip code. Another is Light Bulb Recycling They provide you with a prepaid pail which holds about 30 bulbs. It ships Fedex when you are ready. It costs about $120 to use though.
               Consumers won't be penalized for having inccandescents past 2014 only retailers will. Now might be a good Idea to start stockpiling them if you dislike the CFL's or want to keep Mercury out of your house.