I grew up on a fairly busy avenue of a mid-sized Midwestern town that shall remain nameless because when I say it, everyone bursts into song. (If you can guess the town, send me an email!) I remember when the city was going to make life better for us by changing out the old incandescent street lights for the new, modern mercury vapor lights. They were cool with their bluish, purplish light. Now, it turns out maybe there weren’t so cool after all.The community of Indian Landing is about to get some new sodium vapor lights along Indian Landing Road – 13 of them to be exact. It seems those old “modern” mercury vapor lights are bad for the environment. Disposal is toxic. The change is mandatory due to issues of mercury disposal.
In addition BGE is adding nine new 150 watt sodium vapor pendants to existing utility poles. Residents can review the locations this weekend.
I have a couple of questions:
Given that mercury disposal is a problem, what will we all do with the new CFLs we’re putting in our lamps and lights to save energy and money? I like them. I just want to know what to do with them when they give out.
Do we have any research on the long term effects of sodium disposal?
If any of you can shed some light (ouch!) on these questions, please comment.