Fluorescent Bulbs Are Not

A Lot Of Trouble

To the Editor:

In response to Frank McDermott’s letter in the October 26 Newtown Bee [“Feeling Good And Green”], I would like to defend fluorescent bulbs! I replaced our incandescent bulbs in 2001 or 2002 — it wasn’t even fashionable yet. I have only had to replace two of them. There was an immediate savings in our electric bill. When those two went bad, one of them really smelled terrible and the other one had no odor. I am storing both bulbs in a corner of our basement and will take them — along with a few other things I shouldn’t put in the trash and can’t recycle at the transfer station — to one of the yearly toxic waste collection days. That is not a lot of trouble for me, and I am a fairly busy person with full-time employment and a family. I would like anyone considering making the switch at their home to know that the higher initial cost and the trouble of proper disposal are really not valid reasons to avoid switching to fluorescent bulbs.

Mr McDermott writes, perhaps with some sarcasm and frustration, about “feeling better” and being “green” as if it is unnatural to try to treat the earth with a little respect. It sure would be nice if ignoring a problem would make it go away! There are some impressive statistics on what switching to fluorescent bulbs can do to save energy, and they have worked well at our house. In response to Mr McDermott’s blaming it all on Al Gore’s sinister agenda to save the polar bears: Why not do what we can for the environment? Do we have the right to destroy it?

Nancy Cullen

10 Orchard Hill Road, Newtown                         October 29, 2007