CFL Tips

Handling

• - Always carefully handle CFLs when removing packaging, installing, or replacing them.
• - Hold the bulb by its base and not the glass part.
• - Never forcefully twist the CFL into a light socket.

If a CFL breaks, follow these guidelines:

- Carefully sweep up fragments, wipe the area with a wet paper towel, and dispose of all fragments (including the used paper towel) in a sealed plastic bag.

- Use duct tape to collect small glass fragments from carpet.

- Open a window and have people (including you) and pets leave the room for at least 15 minutes.

- Do not use a vacuum cleaner as it might stir up the remaining dust and vapor.

- Wash your hands after disposing of the materials.

Recycling or Disposal

• It's best to recycle CFLs when they no longer work and aren't broken.
• Recycling programs exist for mercury in older non-digital thermostats and mercury thermometers, but residential CFL recycling programs are just now appearing. Blue Ridge Electric is working with local counties in its service area to set up proper waste handling and recycling programs for CFLs. Ashe and Watauga Counties have already established CFL recycling programs with drop off at solid waste convenience centers, and other local counties are working on similar programs.
• Many counties also hold Household Hazardous Waste Collection Days for accepting CFLs and other fluorescent bulbs for recycling.
• Burning Out Too Soon
• It’s not cheap to switch your energy-efficient incandescent light bulbs to long-burning, compact fluorescent lamps, but you’ll save money in the long run by replacing the bulbs less often and by using less electricity to burn them.
  
  So if you’ve noticed that your CFLs are burning out too soon, it could be that you’re buying the wrong kind.
  
  Normal CFLs aren’t designed for use with dimmers. And they don’t last as long if you use them in enclosed areas or where there’s excessive heat, vibration or fluctuations in power.
  
  Some tips:
  ■ Before you buy a bulb for a dimmer or another special use, check its label to learn if it’s made for that. Some CFLs work in dimmers, motion sensors or three-way sockets, for example. But not all of them do.
  ■ Buy the right size bulb for the fixture. Using a larger bulb or one that burns brighter than recommended for a lamp or ceiling fixture can cause the bulb to overheat and burn out prematurely.
  ■ Avoid placing CFLs in enclosed indoor fixtures. The lack of air circulation and increased heat can reduce its life.
  ■ Choose a special, more-durable CFL for use in an overhead fan light, which can vibrate and disturb the bulb.
  ■ If you’re using CFLs outdoors, find bulbs designed for exterior use, and check the package to learn if the bulbs can withstand cold temperatures. Placing them in protected fixtures.
  ■ Turning a CFL on and off frequently can shorten its life. Try to leave the CFL on for at least 15 minutes at a time.
  
  With normal use, CFLs typically last for 10,000 hours--13 times longer than an incandescent bulb.
  

For additional tips on cleaning up broken bulbs, see this fact sheet at energystar.gov.