ECRA/ESA #7001377
Home electrical problems diagnosed, treated and cured... guaranteed. |
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Writing your Prescription for Electrical Safety Mar 2011 |
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| EVERY WATT COUNTS | |
If you save only ONE WATT for one whole year.
1 watt x 24 hrs x 365days = 8,760 watts (8.76 kW)
8.76 kW x $.06/kW(avg) = 53˘ /year SAVINGS
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News You can Use around Your Home
Ontario is the first province in Canada to undertake a three-year program to phase out incandescent light bulbs.
By next year, 2012, the round light bulb that you've been used to all these years will be unavailable for purchase.
Take comfort; Australia banned incandescent lightbulbs in 2009 and although they are down under, they are not in the dark.
Terry Carman RME
Chief of Staff at the Shock Doctors
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| Mercury levels in CFL's | | |
If you have already begun to move away from incandescent bulbs, you may have purchased compact fluorescent light (CFL) bulbs as an alternative. They use less energy, and last longer than conventional light bulbs, but they also use small amounts of mercury, a poisonous heavy metal, to produce their light.
Mercury exposure at high levels can harm the brain, heart, kidneys, lungs, and immune system of every person. The amount in each bulb is very small, about 4-5 milligrams which is about the size of the period at the end of this sentence. By comparison, the maximum amount allowed in farmed fish is 0.2 mg/kg. and our old style mercury thermometers contain about 500 milligrams of mercury.
It is important to reduce our exposure to mercury because the mercury deposits and stays in your body, and accumulates over the years. |
| Cleaning up a broken CFL | | |
When a fluorescent bulb breaks in your home, some of the mercury is released as vapour. To minimize exposure, these are the minimum actions required: Before cleaning up, have other people and pets leave the room. Let it air out for 5-10 minutes; interrupt the central heat/air. Do not use a vacuum to clean up the shards; it will spread the vapour. Scoop up the glass pieces, use sticky tape to lift the smaller pieces, and place all debris in a sealable plastic bag. If feasible, leave the heat/AC off for a couple of hours.
The Ontario Electrical Safety Authority endorses the US Environmental Protection Agency's instructions for CFL cleanup. For the official recommendations for CFL cleanup, CLICK HERE. |
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Responsibly disposing of used CFL's | | |
How do you keep CFLs out of household waste to minimize the impact of mercury in the landfills? Your easiest method is by taking them to your closest Home Depot store.
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| | CFL recycling program |
Home Depot has embarked on a nation-wide program to allow us to dispose of our CFL's easily and responsibly.
At the Home Depot, you will find the CFL recycling unit located at the entrance by the special services desk. Place your expired CFLs in the plastic bags provided. Seal the bag and deposit in the bin.
The CFLs are then sent to a specialized recycling plant (only one plant of its kind in Ontario so far) for processing. |
| Ask the Doc | |
DEAR DOC:
I conscienciously and frugally replaced all my regular lightbulbs with CFL's and am enjoying the savings, but am frustrated because the ones on dimmers won't dim. Is there something wrong with my dimmer switch? Signed: Not Too Dim
DEAR NTD:
There is nothing wrong with your dimmers. You are buying the wrong bulbs. Regular CFL's are not engineered to be dimmable. You need to find the oned marked dimmable (and there are some).
In the mean time, although it is frustrating, you are not harming your dimmer by using regular CFL's controlled by your dimmer switch.
These product lines are improving quickly as many countries have banned incandescent bulbs. The need to replace what we already have will drive innovation for new products. |
| Do you have a question for the Doctor? | |
 If you have a question about the health of your electrical system or would like to investigate a little "plastic surgery", ask the doctor: Click and send your question to ask.us@theshockdoctors.ca.
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A panel surge protector is like an armed guard on your incoming power line, instantly stopping incoming surges before they enter your home devastating TV's, computers, air conditioners, stoves & microwaves, washer & dryer sets.
Book your panel surge protector installation (regular $396) before March 31st and take $88 off the invoice.
This is the last chance this spring for this great offer.
To learn more about surge protection click here.
 Collect AIRMILES® reward miles on your electrical work. Make your home safe and reward yourself at the same time!
® TM Trademarks of AIR MILES International Trading B.V. Used under license by LoyaltyOne, Inc.and Progressive Electrical Services ltd. |
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Yours for safe cleanup and disposal,
Cheri 
The Shock Doctors
..... and Happy St Patrick's Day to all! |
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