LHP&L promotes the MN Energy Challenge - a quick online tool that shows you how small steps can have a big impact on global warming and your bank balance. Hundreds of LH residents signed up to take the challenge. Did you? Click on the discuss button to tell us what you thought! Was it easy? Too much hassle? Longer/shorter than you expected? We'd love your feedback.
MN Energy Challenge
How do I take the MN Energy Challenge?
Go online here, and when you get to the team section, don't forget to please nominate Linden Hills Power and Light as your environmental team!
Thanks for the CFL you gave me -how do I dispose of it when it's done or if I break it? Like paint, batteries, thermostats, and other hazardous household items, CFLs should be disposed of properly. Whether they're intact, or broken, do not throw CFLs in your household garbage. Bayers Hardware at 43rd and Upton takes back used CFLs, and other neighborhood retailers are currently exploring take back programs. You can also take spent CFLs to Hennepin County's Household Hazardous Waste facilities. If you break it, directions for safe clean up can be found here.
What should I do if a CFL breaks?
If you break a fluorescent bulb, keep people and pets out of the room. Open the windows and exterior doors to vent the mercury vapor to the outside for about 15 minutes before cleaning the broken bulb.
After you have ventilated the room:
1. Wearing disposable rubber or plastic gloves (if available), carefully scoop up the glass shards and as much powder as possible with one or two pieces of stiff paper or cardboard. Do not use your hands; the shards are sharp and the powder contains mercury.
2. Wipe the area with a damp paper towel or a disposable wet wipe to pick up any very small shards and the powder residue. Sticky tape, such as duct tape, can also be used to pick up small shards and the powder. Do not use a vacuum until you have cleaned up all the visible powder and shards.
3. Place all the glass shards, powder, and materials you used in the cleanup (gloves, paper, towel, wet wipe, and tape) in a plastic bag that can be sealed. Then place this sealed bag inside another bag and seal it. Keep this in a safe outdoor storage location until you can take it to the county's household hazardous waste facility.
4. Wash your hands.
5. Now you can vacuum. Ventilate the room during and after you vacuum. When you are done, put the vacuum bag or the contents of the canister in double-sealed plastic bags. Place this bag in the trash outdoors until normal disposal.
If a fluorescent light breaks on a carpeted surface, follow the cleanup procedure above, using gloved hands and sticky tape to pick up as many shards and as much powder as possible before you vacuum.
The Hennepin County Drop-off Centers in Bloomington or Brooklyn Park accept all kinds of fluorescent lamps. This includes compact fluorescent lamps, tubes, circular, U-shape, bug 'zappers', tanning lamps, black lights, and high intensity discharge (HID) lamps. There is no fee, but a limit of 25 lamps per household per year. For more information call Hennepin County HHW on 348-3777.
impact on global warming and your bank balance. Hundreds of LH residents signed up to take the challenge. Did you? Click on the discuss button to tell us what you thought! Was it easy? Too much hassle? Longer/shorter than you expected? We'd love your feedback.