General
 
• What is the CFL Exchange project?
The CFL exchange project is an energy savings project led by student volunteers.  After a successful pilot program that exchanged light bulbs in the residence halls and Greek houses, this initiative will replace incandescent light bulbs with CFL (compact fluorescent lamp) bulbs on the Seattle campus.  
 
• What is the University’s policy on the environment and sustainability?
The University of Washington embraces its important leadership role regionally and nationally to be an environmentally, economically, and socially responsible institution. The University is committed to practicing and promoting environmental stewardship while conducting its teaching, research, and service missions as well as its facility operations in all of its locations.  Visit our website to read the university’s Policy Statement.
 
• Whom may I contact regarding environmental stewardship and sustainability at the University?
Contact the Environmental Stewardship and Sustainability Office within the Office of Strategy Management for administrative efforts.  Our mission is to provide a centralized focus for the coordination and promotion of the University’s vision, values, and direction for environmental stewardship through collaborative faculty, student, and staff efforts.  For academic and research information and opportunities, you may also contact the College of the Environment.
 
• Whom may I contact if I am interested in starting or suggesting a project?
We recommend looking into other student groups on campus already engaged with environment programs and sustainability.  If you want to recommend an idea for a project, you can also send it to the Environmental Stewardship and Sustainability Office, and we can help you get started.
 
• Who supports the CFL Exchange project?
The University’s senior leadership is fully supportive of this effort, as indicated in the campus wide email sent from Sandra Archibald, Dean of the Evan’s School of Public Affairs, and chair of the Environmental Stewardship Advisory Committee. The Environmental Stewardship and Sustainability Office is helping to coordinate the exchange. If you or someone you know has a story about helping reduce the university’s carbon footprint, let us know.
 
• Where can I go to find out more information on CFL’s?
For CFLs at the UW, visit the Environmental Health & Safety website.
For general information regarding CFLs, visit Seattle City Light’s website on energy efficient lighting.
 
 
Disposal & Recycling
 
• Are CFL’s recyclable?
Yes.  At UW Seattle, contact Facilities Services and they will recycle them for you. At other locations, contact your local Facilities Services or maintenance department.  http://www.ehs.washington.edu/eporecycle/lamps.shtm#recycle
 
• What should I do when a CFL bulb burns out?
If a CFL burns out at UW Seattle, contact Facilities Services – Maintenance and Alterations for collection. At other locations, contact your local Facilities Services or maintenance department.
 
• What should I do if a CFL bulb breaks?
If the lamp is broken, some of the mercury will adhere to the lamp’s glass fragments. The rest of the mercury is released into the air, where it will dissipate fairly quickly. Leave the room briefly, leaving doors and windows open if possible. Do not vacuum the broken bulb. Follow the cleanup and disposal instructions on the EH&S webpage at http://www.ehs.washington.edu/eporecycle/lamps.shtm. If you are not comfortable with cleaning up the broken bulb, Facilities Services personnel are familiar with the appropriate procedures for cleaning up broken fluorescent lamps and will do it for you. At UW Seattle, contact Facilities Services – Maintenance and Alterations. At other locations, contact your local Facilities or maintenance departments.
 

Safety and Cost
 
• How safe are CFLs since they contain mercury?
Fluorescent lamps do not present a large risk of exposure to mercury. CFLs contain on average about 4 milligrams of mercury in them. When a bulb is broken, airborne mercury quickly dissipates and the rest of the mercury sticks to the glass shards unless disturbed. If you avoid breathing the initial puff of mercury vapor and follow the instructions above for cleanup, your exposure should be negligible. Burnt out bulbs do not release mercury unless the glass bulb is broken. They may occasionally release a burnt smell when they burn out, but this is due to overheating of the plastic body.  http://www.ehs.washington.edu/eporecycle/lamps.shtm#recycle
 
• Who are the volunteers who will be exchanging the light bulbs?
You can identify a CFL Exchange Project volunteer because they will be escorted by a building coordinator.
 
• Why are CFLs being used and not LED?
The UW is very interested in using the new LED lighting products that have been developed recently.  The LED products we have looked at to date are generally too expensive, and have not been around long enough for us to thoroughly evaluate.  But the technology and energy savings potential are very promising, and we plan to continue to evaluate the new LED products for performance and price.
 
• What is the cost of the CFL Exchange Project?
The CFL Exchange Project will be carried out by student volunteers who are passionate about energy reduction.  The CFL bulbs have been generously donated by Seattle City Lights.  The UW may save about $12,000 a year through this exchange effort.