Fun Facts About Free CFL Bulbs

Threatening to supplant traditional incandescent light bulbs, Compact Florescent Lamps (CFL) have reached mainstream America. Every Home Depot, Lowe's, and corner hardware store stocks a plentiful supply of the high-tech bulbs. These amazing gizmos use much less energy to produce equivalent amounts of luminance. They 'burn' cooler, last longer, and generate a whiter light than the glowing filaments devised by Thomas Edison. They come in numerous styles, with tubular configurations being popular in Europe and spiral styles drawing raves in North America.

The city of Los Angeles recently announced a program to award 1.2 million households with 2 CFLs each. City officials estimated an annual savings of 240 gigawatt-hours of electricity. By comparison a single 100 watt incandescent light bulb uses 100 watts of electricity per hour of use. An equivalent CFL unit produces an equivalent amount of light while consuming only 30% as much energy. CFLs also operate at a significantly lower temperature, thus reducing the load on air conditioning systems.

Green Light South Carolina offers free CFLs to middle and low income families residing in the state. Their stated goal is to reduce global warming and climate change; volunteers distribute the bulbs throughout the Palmetto State. This program gratefully accepts donations. They calculate that every $100,000 donation will save $2,000,000 in electricity. Significant donations have been made by Wal Mart, The Sierra Club, and Blue Ridge Electric. Organizers hope to install 200,000 CFL bulbs in upstate South Carolina and eventually spread the program to additional areas.

Green Light New Orleans sells CFL bulbs and uses the proceeds to purchase additional free bulbs for low income households. They offer personalized in-home consultations to help residents better understand the benefits and applications of CFC technology. Their volunteer program fourishes 6 days a week (Monday through Saturday) and volunteers may sign up for full or half-day assignments. Transplanted Swiss musician Andi Hoffmann initiated the program in 2006 as a way to address the devastation left behind by Hurricane Katrina and the flooding due to breached levies.

Chelan County, Washington, offers a program that encourages residents to apply for as many as 20 CFL bulbs to use in their homes. The first round of giveaways resulted in over 11,000 bulbs finding new homes and many more bulbs promised in the form of rain-checks. Customers were encouraged to request only as many bulbs as they had an immediate need for, but applications for up to 20 bulbs per household were processed. Applicants received 13 watt CFLs, which provide as much luminance as 75 watt incandescent bulbs. Washington legislators passed the Energy Independence Act in 2006; significant in the bill is conservation language that directs some power companies to implement conservation programs.

The city of The City of East Lansing, Michigan, offered free CFls to residents through Delta Township and the Eaton County Department of Resource Recovery. This program derived from a Michigan Public Service Commission grant to encourage energy conservation and was coordinated with an Earth Day Celebration. Education and free recycling were also provided. Approximately 12,000 energy efficient bulbs were distributed to residents who stopped by the Department of Public Works (DPW) office and simply requested them.