"Mercury is a bioaccumulative, persistent, and toxic heavy metal that threatens human and ecosystem health."
The rapid increase in programmable thermostat installations for residential energy savings has meant that an increased number of older mercury-containing thermostats are being disposed of in household waste and ending up
in landfills.
An older thermostat can contain approximately 2.5-10 grams of mercury and it only takes one gram of mercury to contaminate an eight-hectare lake to the point where the fish in that lake are inedible for a full year.
Switching to newer and more energy-efficient programmable thermostats and responsibly disposing of older mercury-containing thermostats reduces energy consumption, greenhouse gas emissions, and prevents mercury from contaminating our air, soil, and water.
If you would like to drop off your mercury-containing thermostat to make sure it’s disposed of responsibly go to Ecco Supply at 1131 Central Ave., 346-4464 or Western Supplies at 933 Tungsten Street, 345-6543.
If you are a contractor or wholesaler and you would like to participate in Switch the 'Stat, click here.
Page last updated on Thursday, September 06, 2012
