(Dec. 28) - The federal government wants you to make this New Year's resolution: Replace one old, incandescent light bulb in your house with a new, compact fluorescent bulb. The payoff: You'll use less energy, save money and reduce air pollution.
The Environmental Protection Agency kicked off its Energy Star "Change a Light, Change the World" campaign Oct. 4, with events and store promotions around the country. People can take the
"Change a Light Pledge" on the Energy Star Web site and say how many bulbs they are willing to change. People can also register their organizations to set their own goals and join the campaign.
"What this is about ultimately is saving energy resources and helping to reduce the risks of global warming -- and empowering Americans to take action," said Wendy Reed, Energy Star communications manager for the campaign.
She said that changing one 60-watt incandescent bulb to a 13-watt compact fluorescent would save $30 or more over its lifetime of about five years, which is up to 10 times longer than an incandescent. Energy-efficient bulbs use two-thirds less energy than incandescents and give off 70 percent less heat.
"If every U.S. home changed just one light to an Energy Star qualified light, the U.S. would save more than $500 million in energy costs, enough to light more than 2.5 million homes for a year," said Reed. The nation would also reduce "greenhouse gases equivalent to the emissions from 800,000 cars."
One factor makes it likely that the campaign will be much more successful this year than in its first six years: Wal-Mart is joining in a big way. Reed said Wal-Mart customers will see "beautiful in-store displays" for energy-efficient lighting products and the Energy Star TV spot will play in the "Wall of Eyes" television area in the stores.
"It's a harbinger of things to come for this market," Reed said. "Other retailers see [Wal-Mart's participation] as a product category builder."
Retailers and utilities will promote the Change a Light campaign in October and November. Reed said that demand for energy-efficient light bulbs and fixtures "has really increased in recent years." This year, customers may find "long-lasting good prices on bulbs and fixtures," Reed said.
She does not have retail sales numbers for energy-efficient lights and fixtures, but did say that Wal-Mart saw a "1,000 percent sales increase last year."
The campaign's goal is for 500,000 Americans to take the pledge and change one light. Some 356,000 people have already done it.
Reducing home energy use is important for the environment, because the average U.S. home is responsible for creating twice the air pollution, in the form of greenhouse gases, as the average car. This is because most electricity is generated by burning fossil fuels, which releases greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide into the air.
"It's amazing to me how few people understand that link," said Reed.
Reed pointed out that "lighting accounts for 20 percent of the electric bill" in U.S. homes and that each home has an average of 30 light fixtures. Some fixtures have multiple bulbs. So there is a lot of opportunity for savings. "Everyone today can go out and buy and replace one bulb," said Reed.
To get the most savings, Energy Star advises people to replace bulbs where lights are on the most, such as your family and living room, kitchen, dining room and porch. Energy-efficient light fixtures are also available. In all, there are 14 types of Energy Star qualified home lighting products, from table lamps to ceiling fans and chandeliers.
Consumers can find Energy Star bulbs and fixtures at the
Energy Star Lighting Web site.
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Changing one light to a compact fluorescent light bulb can save up to $30 in electricity costs.
