Make the Light Switch


If every household replaced three 60-watt incandescent bulbs with energy efficient bulbs, the pollution saving would be like taking 3.5 million cars off the road.

According to Energy Star, Americans saved $1.5 billion in 2007 by switching to Energy Star qualified compact fluorescent lights (CFLs). The energy saved could light all of the homes in a city the size of Washington D.C. for over 30 years.

Energy-saving CFLs use one-quarter of the energy to produce the same amount of light. This means lower electricity bills and millions of tons less global warming pollution. In the summer they will even lower cooling bills because they do not burn as hot as incandescent bulbs, in fact, they product 75 percent less heat.

In addition to being more energy efficient, Energy Star bulbs last 10 times longer than incandescent light bulbs.

In order to make the switch, the Environmental Defense Fund recommends:
  1. Start with one bulb in one room to be sure that it gives the kind of light you want.
  2. Know your wattage. Look for a CF bulb with one-quarter the wattage of the incandescent bulb you are replacing (i.e. CF 15-watt bulb replaces an incandescent 60-watt bulb).
  3. Check the shape and size to make sure that a CF bulb will fit in your lamp or light fixture.
  4. In order for a CF bulb to work with a dimmer, it needs to be designed for it, so read the package.
  5. Look for the Energy Star label, these bulbs are the most energy efficient.
  6. Dispose of old light bulbs properly. All fluorescent lights contain traces of mercury so they need to be recycled when they burn out. To find a location to recycle your old bulbs click here.
  7. Check to see if your utility company offers rebates for using energy-efficient bulbs.

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