Compact Fluorescent Lamps Save Energy, Prevent Greenhouse Gases

The goals of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s ENERGY STAR "Change a Light, Change the World Campaign" are to save energy and reduce the risks of global climate change - one light at a time.  In its 8th year, the campaign continues to build momentum and gain support from individuals, retailers, organizations, and communities nationwide.

The premise is simple: Switch to energy-efficient lamps and help preserve our nation’s energy resources and environment. Businesses and organizations everywhere are joining the campaign, apparent by the nearly 500,000 pledges. The Argonne National Laboratory in Chicago is a perfect example. Last year, the laboratory saved 1,165,224 kWh of energy; $116,522 in energy costs; and prevented 1,838,740 pounds of greenhouse-gas emissions through the simple act of changing a light to an ENERGY STAR-qualified bulb.

Efforts were organized by Argonne Energy Manager Gwendolyn Morrison, who led the initiative to give free compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) to employees and visitors at the lab’s open-house celebration. The effort was also promoted in the Argonne newsletters and bulletins. The result? More than 600 employees took the pledge, easily exceeding the goal of 250.

According to ENERGY STAR, if every American home replaced just one bulb with an ENERGY STAR certified lamp, enough energy would be saved to light more than 2.5 million homes for a year and prevent greenhouse gases equivalent to the emissions of nearly 800,000 cars.

ENERGY STAR-qualified CFLs use at least 2/3-less energy than standard incandescent bulbs to provide the same amount of light and last up to 10-times longer. They also generate 70-percent less heat.

Oct. 3, 2007, has officially been designated as ENERGY STAR Change a Light Day. To find out more about CFLs or to join the campaign, visit (www.energystar.gov).