thanks for the link - I prefer purchasing 'made in the USA' whenever I can!!!

B&BJ, its hard to do but I've found that doing a little research I can find what I need, made in the U.S.A.  Now more than ever we need to support our own businesses!

I try to use these in my home, and want to start using them in homes that I stage as well.  I sae them at IKEA.

Thanks Terry, I'll check them out.  I need really small ones for some lamps  Do they carry small sizes?

Thank for sharing, Terry! I will definitely check them out.

Cindy,   Before you buy IKEA make sure they're not made overseas :-)

Renee - not sure they make really tiny ones!  You can try to find them.

Tanya - good for you.  We should all buy American made goods whenever we can, even if it takes a while to find them.

Hi Terry - what do you know about the disposal of these? And do you know if the US made CFL's have lead in them like the Chinese made? Good to know they are price competitive. I guess I can check the site and availability here.

Deborah, I think the debate about disposal is still on going.  I would assume those CFL's do contain mercury, I think its needed for the flourescent part.  But because they last 10 years, I don't think disposal should be an issue at this point.  I would imagine that kink will be worked out by the time we need to address it.  And yeah, competitive on the price AND not made in China!

Terry - Disposal is an issue because of the mercury My husband used to work at a nuclear plant here in Ontario and because they uesd a lot of flourescent lighting they had a special storage area for burned out ones that were then taken for proper disposal.

YOU SHOULD NOT JUST PUT THEM IN THE GARBAGE
in some places it is unlawfull to do so.

Kathy you are so right and I never knew that.  Over the years I've broken several of those tubes.  I hate to think what I inhaled.  But as I said, I think proper disposal will come along at some point.  If the bulbs last 10 years we have a while to think on it.  But then again, knowing this country, we won't do anything till it hits crisis mode!

Terry, this is good to know about.  I am really trying to avoid made in China whenever I can, so this is one more opportunity!

Terry - we do tend to forget about the consequences - just look at nuclear power and all the "hot" spent fuel that is now desperately in need of permanent ,safe storage

Patricia, glad I could help you!

Kathy, once again you are right on!  I'm not sure what the solution to all these issues are, if there are any.  If we try to reduce CO2 emissions by using CFL's we create another problem.  If we use more electricity by using incandescent bulbs then the electric companies generate more nuclear waste.  Its a catch 22.  Personally I think we are killing this planet and nothing will help at this point.

Terry,

One of us is a mind reader. I was just going to write and ask about CFL lights and staging. And here you have a post.  Thanks, for the local source!

You're welcome Gary!

Leave it to you Terry to take GREEN one step further and include RED, WHITE, and BLUE! Loving it ;-)

Thanks BFF!

Thanks for the info Terry, always looking for stuff like that.

You're welcome Ana!

I hadn't thought about this issue before, but thank you for sharing your thoughts and supplier info. I will check it out!

Great Tori Lynn.  I'll be flying into Omaha on the 23rd.  I'll wave to you as I fly over!

Wherever you buy them from should take them back when you are done with them.  I know they do at IKEA>

Are you packed yet?  I will be in Brooksville FL somewhere near Tampa.

Kathleen, thats a great idea.  I would really like to see every town in this country impose mandatory recycling of all recyclable items and mandatory, especially toxic products.  I'll be packing this weekend.  Have a good trip!

Someone told me that if these lightbulbs break it cause an environmental problem. One of my clients daughter's work for a company that said a client had this happen and it cost them $4,000.00 to correct??? Not sure how true that is.

Phyllis Pafumi

Well Phyllis, the do contain mercury but in small amounts, certainly less than our mother's let us play with when the thermometer broke!  I would think in a workplace, maybe it would be considered a health hazard, but I've broken the tube kind before and I'm still here.  One of the problems is technology to properly dispose of these bulbs is not around yet, but they do last around 10 years so we have time to come up with something. 

Great post Terry.  I agree we should support our local industries.  The same problem exists in Canada.  It's getting harder and harder to find products that are made here.  Kathy brought up great points too about safe disposal. 

Charlene, its a sad sign of the times when our countries are now reliant on other countries to supply our goods.  I found if I look long enough I can usually find what I want made in the USA, and I'm not above buying made in Canada :-)  We gotta stick together.

Hey Terry - your little light bulb is shinning bright! I may be wrong but I remember a few years ago before Russia split into tiny pieces that it was the only country in the world that did not have to go outside itself for anything (resources), totally had everything they needed. Makes me wonder how they are doing now?

BFF, I think they have fallen victim to the same "greed" as we have and can no longer sustain themselves.

Thanks for the info.  Seems the real estate world is going green fast these days.  Great posting.

You're welcome Gary.  But American!!!! Thanks for commenting.

You said it Terry, we sure do.  I have no problem buying things that are made in the U.S. either.   

Well afterall Charlene, we are basically from the same stock aren't we?  Only difference is we don't get to have a Royal Family to admire!  We have had a self-declared royal family for the past almost 8 years, but nobody admires them :-)

Good one!  (lol)

Sad but true Charlene.  I've been keeping in touch with my Canadian friends, just in case one day I need a sponsor to immigrate :-)  I can count on you, right?

Well Terry, I remember from reading your comments on other blogs that you drink beer.  That's one thing for starters that you've got going in your favour.  You'll have to kick it up a notch though and start practicing with the higher octane Canadian beer and see how you do.  Then we'll talk ;-)

Charlene, you crack me up! Ah beer, the elixir of life.  I don't drink any american beer unless its microbrew.  I do drink Kona beer from Hawaii and any mexican beer other than Corona or Sol.  What brands are Canadian?  I'd love to try one?  Will I still remain standing :-)

Well let's see, the first two that come to mind are Molson's and Labatt's products. They both have quite a few to choose from.  I don't know if you can get the Sleeman's brand there.  It's one of our microbreweries - much better beers than the others in my opinion.  Check the alcohol percentage though.  You don't want anything below 5% alcohol - that's just child's play :-)  I am actually into the British beers moreso myself.  I LOVE Guinness, but then again I'm half Irish so it's in my blood.  It puts hair on your chest, but that's what electrolysis was invented for (just kidding on that one).  How come the American beer-flavoured water beers don't show an alcohol percentage on them?  I've always wondered about that.  See what you can find and enjoy.  Too bad we can't share a pint together! 

Charlene, I too am a Guiness lover.  I've heard of Labatts but don't see it around much.  I think american beer is 3.2%.  Probably why they don't advertise it.  You have to drink more to get a buzz, therefore they make more money.  When I was younger we used to set our hair at night using beer.  Its the best hair setter.  Course now everyone uses blow dryers or hot rollers so guess it wouldn't work.  But personally, thats the only thing our beer is good for here.  Maybe one day we can "share a pint".  I've made several Canadian friends on AR so I might just get up there one day!

That's a scream Terry!  I've never heard of beer as a hair setter.  So you love Guinness too eh?  If we'd grown up in the same town, I think the two of us together would have been T.R.O.U.B.L.E.  :-)   I hope we'll get the chance to meet some day!    

Charlene, how did you know how to spell my name? :-)  Yeah beer is a great hair setter.  Leaves hair soft and shiny.  Probably would work as an after shampoo rinse.  It makes the hair stiff when its dry but it combs out nice and soft.

Great point Terry.  Thanks for the information.  I will be sure to check that from now on.  I use CFL's in my home but I hesitate before using them in client's homes because I once heard a stager talk about how ugly they were and that they should not be used in staging for aesthetic reasons.  I think it is just a matter of adjusting to change.

Anita

You're welcome Anita.  I would say, in this day and age, given the need to conserve, aesthetics should be the least of our worries.  And now the bulbs are so small you can't even see them.  I just installed some "sunlight" CFL's in my closets.  It looks as if there is a skylight in there.  Awesome!