Jul 10, 2008 2:34 pm US/Pacific
'Green' Light Bulb Saves SoCal $27M
ROSEMEAD, Calif. (CBS) ―
More than 100,000 Southern California Edison customers have installed more than 1 million energy-efficient light bulbs since October as part of an effort to combat climate change, the utility announced today.
Using Energy Star Compact Fluorescent Lamp bulbs has saved customers $27 million on their utility bills while cutting greenhouse gas emissions by 420 million pounds, according to the utility.
The bulbs are the cornerstone of the Environmental Protection Agency's "Change a Light, Change the World" campaign.
"We are proud and thrilled that our customers have taken these simple steps to save energy, money and protect the environment," said SCE spokeswoman Lynda Ziegler. "Swapping out a light bulb or two may not seem like a big deal, but this effort shows that every little bit really does help."
CFLs use about a quarter of the energy of an incandescent bulb and can last up to 10 years, according to SCE, which estimated that if five conventional light bulbs from every California household were replaced with CFLs, it would be the carbon-reduction equivalent of taking more than 400,000 cars off the road.
The compact fluorescent bulbs have raised safety concerns because each one contains about four milligrams of mercury.
The EPA has advised customers to handle the bulbs carefully to avoid breaking them, and not to throw them away when they burn out. Instead, they should be disposed of at a local recycling center.
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