Oncor encourages consumers to use compact fluorescent light bulbs

by PegNews wire

DALLAS — According to the Department of Energy (DOE), the average family in the North Texas area consumes around 17,444 kilowatt hours annually in their home. Approximately 10 percent of a home’s electric consumption is from lighting, which is typically from standard incandescent light bulbs. Consumers can make their mark on energy use and the environment with a non-traditional – yet very energy-efficient – bulb: the compact fluorescent light bulb or CFL.

Oncor and seven other Texas electric utilities announced today that they are sponsoring the Texas Statewide ENERGY STAR® Residential Lighting Program, which is designed to encourage consumers to use ENERGY STAR qualified CFLs from retailers. Oncor, along with local manufacturers, is providing retailers financial assistance so that they can offer discounts on CFLs. This action will make them more comparable in cost to incandescent bulbs. These discounts will be clearly marked at the retail locations and will range from 30 percent to more than 70 percent less than the original retail price.

Oncor and the other participating utilities have set a goal of selling more than 1.5 million CFLs in Texas this year, which they estimate will collectively save consumers more than 77 million kilowatt hours of energy annually. As the largest regulated utility in Texas, Oncor has the highest target of 1 million bulbs replaced.

“Not only will Texas consumers be able to buy CFLs at a price that’s competitive with incandescent bulbs, they’ll be making their mark on energy usage and the environment from the moment they install them,” said Mike Stockard, Oncor director of energy efficiency. “CFLs are designed to use between 70 to 75 percent less energy than incandescent bulbs depending on their wattage. They also, burn cooler and last up to 10 times longer. One 23-watt CFL can save on average around 100 kilowatt hours on average annually in energy consumption versus a 100-watt incandescent.”

Stockard explained that the discounted bulbs won’t require any special coupons or rebates and are available at retailers where consumers are already accustomed to buying bulbs. Consumers who are interested should call the program’s toll-free hotline at 1-866-668-9581 or visit MakeYourMarkTX.com for a list of participating retailers.

“We believe that this program will be successful because it’s so easy for consumers to make a simple change that gives them many benefits for a small cost,” said Stockard.

Compact fluorescent lights are designed to:

• Use up to 75 percent less energy, which can lead to reduced carbon emissions from local power plants,

• Save an average of 100 kilowatt hours or more in energy costs for each bulb per year; installing five or more CFL bulbs in a home can save an average of 500 kilowatt hours or more per year,

• Last longer – often between five and seven years,

• Give off less heat, which can help reduce cooling costs as well as lighting costs,

• Provide the same light output and color tone as standard bulbs,

• Come in a wide variety of shapes and styles, with features such as dimming and 3-way, and can be used almost wherever incandescent bulbs are currently used.

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, when the program reaches its goal this year:

• The CFLs sold could save more than $7.5 million in energy costs each year.

• More than 77 million kilowatt hours of energy can be saved each year, which is enough to power 39,588 homes for one year

Although the CFLs can last up to seven years, eventually they will burn out. When that happens, utilities are encouraging consumers to properly dispose of the bulbs which contain a small amount of mercury. Consumers should take burned-out CFLs to the nearest approved facility.

Discounted CFLs will be available at participating retail locations in Oncor’s service territory through December 2009.

Source: Oncor