Little League Wins with the Bulb Eater

I'm always amazed at the many unique ways the Bulb Eater® lamp crusher is put to work recycling fluorescent lamps. One of the more creative uses for the Bulb Eater I've run across is a fundraising event for the Little League of Cordova, Alaska. A recent article in the Cordova Times explains how participants fed fluorescent lamps into the Bulb Eater for a suggested donation of 25 cents per bulb.

"Feeding the bulb eater is fun," said Autumn Bryson, environmental coordinator for the Native Village of Eyak, a sponsor of the event. "It's amazing, it just grabs the bulb out of your hand and crushes it up." The event also raised awareness of the environmental risks of mercury contamination that can result from improperly disposing of fluorescent lamps.

Click here for a free case study on the benefits of using the Bulb Eater lamp crushing system. Feel free to contact us at anytime with questions about the Bulb Eater or other Air Cycle products.

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Relamping Cost Comparison and Tips

The time to relamp arrives sooner or later at every facility. But is it better to replace each individual lamp as it burns out, or to replace all lamps in a lighting system at one time?

Reliant Energy crunches data from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in this informative article comparing the costs of the spot and group relamping methods. The article also explains how to make the most of relamping by maximizing light quality and logistical efficiency.

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Other relamping considerations, courtesy of Building Operating Management, include:

• Checking for broken or damaged lampholders. One reason for lighting failure often missed during spot relamping is a cracked lampholder or socket that could lead to a smoking fixture if a short circuit results.

• Following up on ballast and lamp warranties. Most lighting maintenance firms routinely handle such paperwork.

• Recycling lamps. Many facilities seeking LEED points or other green status may wish to hand this task over to a firm that knows the most economical and acceptable ways to meet requirements.

• Securing available incentives. Some lamp manufacturers occasionally offer rebates or discounts, while a few states offer incentives for cutting wattage, which may be available when switching to low-power lamps during group relamping.

• Setting up and maintaining a lamp/ballast database. Knowing the location, specifications and last installation date of every lamp and ballast goes a long way to cutting down occasional spot relamping time, while greatly helping future upgrades.

The Bulb Eater® lamp crushing system from Air Cycle is perfect for storing the spent bulbs produced during relamping projects prior to recycling. For facilities that generate smaller amounts of lamps or other waste, the EasyPak™ prepaid bulb recycling container is a perfect fit.