Much of the discussion about mercury and fluorescent lightbulbs have been around the compact fluorescent lights, (CFLs) also known as "toxic Gorebulbs." They had a tiny bit of mercury, about 1 milligram, and many people have replaced them with light emitting diodes (LED) bulbs.
But the real mercury problem is with the long thin fluorescent tubes that are in offices, factories, public spaces, and even in some homes. These have a lot of mercury in them—2 to 8 milligrams in each, averaging 2.7 milligrams—and there are billions of these bulbs still in use. Now a new study published by the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE), the Appliance Standards Awareness Project (ASAP), CLASP, and the Clean Lighting Coalition calls for their phaseout.1
Even after LED lights were common, the T8 bulbs (the most common variety, one inch in diameter and four feet long) were not subject to any regulation because they were more efficient and cost-effective than LEDs, but that is no longer true as the LEDs have become cheaper and better.
Probably the only place that florescent bulbs might make sense is a handful of really old fixtures that use magnetic ballasts without starters. But other then that drop in LED bulbs work in most fixtures, even without removing the ballasts.
he auto industry has been struggling with a global microchip shortage for almost two years. This has caused widespread supply issues for new vehicles on dealer lots everywhere, and used car prices have been skyrocketing for months on end. But just when prices and availability look as if they're stabilizing, the industry may have yet another hurdle to overcome caused by the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Ukraine is home to nearly 70 percent of the world's neon gas supply. While this might not immediately seem like a gigantic auto-industry item, this particular inert gas plays a crucial role in the manufacturing of nearly all semiconductors foundries around the world, according to research from TrendForce. And if the supply of neon gas is interrupted, the world may find itself reversing course back to sky-high prices and limited component availability.
As the Russian invasion of Ukraine began to unfold, Russia’s swift occupation of the Chernobyl reactor complex and the surrounding exclusion zone sparked widespread speculation and concern.[1] The concern was not limited to whether the occupation would cause further radioactive release from Chernobyl;[2] it also included possible Russian military action against other Ukrainian nuclear facilities. These fears were further accelerated when Russian forces shelled and apparently occupied the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power complex near Enerhodar, Ukraine.[3] There have also been reports of attacks on a former Radon disposal site near Kyiv.[4]
But I guess it’s mid March so things should moderate a bit. Saves on the heat. Rainy though today, will want the umbrella. And the weekend doesn’t look that good.
Today. Feels like …
March 26th.
Rain, mainly after 8am. High near 49. Calm wind becoming south 5 to 9 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New precipitation amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.
and
49 degrees
,
5:53
sunset.
Tonight. Feels like …
April 1st.
Rain before 11pm, then a slight chance of showers between 11pm and midnight. Low around 31. Windy, with a light and variable wind becoming west 25 to 30 mph in the evening. Winds could gust as high as 47 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New precipitation amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible.
and
31 degrees
,
6:17
sunrise.
Tuesday. Feels like …
February 27th.
Mostly sunny.
Breezy, with a northwest wind 15 to 23 mph, with gusts as high as 36 mph.
and
39 degrees
,
5:54
sunset.
Tuesday Night. Feels like …
March 7th.
Partly cloudy.
Northwest wind 5 to 8 mph becoming calm in the evening.
and
23 degrees
,
6:15
sunrise.
Wednesday. Feels like …
March 17th.
Mostly cloudy.
Calm wind becoming south 5 to 7 mph in the morning.
