Light Bulb
Broken light bulbs can be harmful. Do not vacuum; pick up broken shards with a damp cloth. Wrap carefully and dispose of cloth and bulb fragments.
This Stuff article says "12 per cent of New Zealand's energy consumption was in lighting ..." A good reason to consider lower-energy lighting options! The electricity used over the lifetime of a single incandescent bulb costs 5 to 10 times the original purchase price of the bulb itself.
Check out the EECA Energywise hints.
Also see energy efficient light bulb and fluorescent light.
Reduce light bulb purchases by:
- taking advantage of natural lighting where possible by opening curtains and blinds
- asking your architect or builder if you are retrofitting or building a new house about where best to place windows or skylights to take advantage of natural light
- installing timers or sensors which will help make your bulbs last longer by only having them on when needed
- consider where you could cheaply replace outdoor lights with simple outdoor solar lights
- changing to Energy-Efficient Light bulbs (EFLs) - mercury-free CFL (Compact Fluorescent Light) bulbs, LED or halogen lights
EFLs (LED, CFL and halogen light bulbs) and flourescent tubes are collected at the Whanganui Resource Recovery Centre for recycling. Please ask a staff member on the forecourt where to place your light bulbs and tubes.
Broken light bulbs should be wrapped carefully if going in waste to landfill.