Entergy New Orleans aims to cut consumer energy usage
… measures could include things as simple as getting grants to distribute energy saving compact fluorescent light bulbs or as detailed as changing the rate structure so that Entergy’s profits aren’t tied to how much power it sells …
The latter measure sounds good in theory, but they obviously didn’t get the memo regarding the former proposed change.
Originally in canada.com: The CFL mercury nightmare and reprinted here:
How much money does it take to screw in a compact fluorescent light bulb? About US $4.28 for the bulb and labor — unless you break the bulb. Then you, like Brandy Bridges of Ellsworth, Maine, could be looking at a cost of about US $2,004.28, which doesn’t include the costs of frayed nerves and risks to health.
Update: Commenter Chris bothered to read the comments section of the aforementioned post. It appears the jury’s still out on CFL bulbs and this topic is consigned to the Not Everything You Read On The Intertubes Is True bin for now.
That is a very irresponsible article. The lady in the article could have simply opened the window. A CFL has the same amount of mercury as 100 cans of tuna. There was probably more danger from the broken glass than the mercury … If you google for CFL mercury the first link is a PDF with the actual facts. It even has instructions how to clean up a broken CFL for zero dollars.
… What about the mercury in the normal long tube fluorescent light bulbs. No one panics when they get broken.
The most interesting thing are the comments at the link to http://prorev.com/2007/04/downside-of-fluorescent-lightbulbs.htm which I tend to believe.
Good point, Chris. Thanks for the link. I wonder why this woman was then ordered to pay $2000 for her cleanup – someone at EPA (or equivalent) is making money.
or as detailed as changing the rate structure so that Entergy’s profits aren’t tied to how much power it sells,
Changing the rate structure…doesn’t that mean a price increase? I know they use a different accent in Louisiana sometimes.
While higher prices motivate users to cut back on a commodity, I’m still hopeful that the plan contains some alternative energy measures as well as fixing existing infrastructure. Sticking it to the consumer is not the best way to conduct business after being yanked out of bankruptcy. However, as you said, I’m not entirely familiar with the accent used in LA when it comes to bureaucracy.
Yeah, but the light still sucks. And you do eventually have to throw the things away. 4 billion light sockets x 5mg = 40,000 Liters of mercury. Where do we put it? :)