Change a Light in Lexington
Compact fluorescents are cleaner and cheaper
How many Lexingtonians does it take to change a light bulb? This is no joke. We can...
- save about $50,000
- reduce by half a million pounds the yearly output of the greenhouse gas, carbon dioxide
- keep the air clean
Collectively, that's how much we'd save each year, if every household in Lexington, swaps a regular incandescent bulb for a new compact fluorescent (CFL) or 50% swap two bulbs, or 25% swap four bulbs, we can have a big impact on our wallets and the amount of pollution we produce.
We are signing up retailers, getting free bulbs and rebate coupons from NSTAR Electric, organizing school contests, and launching an educational plan in May to hit this goal by October 2005.
Email us at ChangeALight@SustainableLexington.org to let us know how many bulbs you swapped out.
Why switch to compact fluorescents?
Which lights do you leave on for the longest time in your house? Chances are, these bulbs are regular incandescents. If you replace these lights with new compact fluorescents, you'll pay 60% less to make the same amount of light. This also means you're using 60% less energy which means 60% less pollution and greenhouse gasses in producing that electricity. These bulbs last five to seven years before they need replacement, so they end up costing a lot less.
Where can I find them?
Compact fluorescent bulbs are available in many locations these days, but during this campaign you can find specially discounted bulbs at
- Lexington Ace Hardware
- Stop & Shop, and
- Walgreens
These bulbs cost only a little more, but their use will noticeably reduce your electric bill and they last about 7 years compared to only about a year for regular incandescent bulbs. You can also find a big selection of bulbs and fixtures at great discounts from the Energy Star Light Catalog. Check out www.estarlights.com or call 800-473-9150.