By Fletcher Miller, Green Energy Ohio board of directors 
from the November 2006 GEO newsletter

If every home in America replaced five old-fashioned incandescent light bulbs with new compact flourescent bulbs we would save $6.5 billion annually, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to taking 8 million cars off the road.

To increase the use of compact flourescent lights (CFL), which currently have a national market share of only about 5 percent, Green Energy Ohio is proud to be an official partner in the US Energy Star "Change a light, change the world" campaign.

As costs to purchase a CFL have fallen dramatically, there has never been a better time to switch. Technology has improved so that light quality is fully equivalent to incandescent, and is now available for specialized applications such as dimmer switches and chandeliers. With increased energy costs (both economic and environmental), now is the time to conserve.

Besides helping the environment, each bulb will save you more than $60 on your electric bill during the life of the bulb (based on Northeast Ohio rates).

When you replace a bulb, help Ohio win the competition by registering online.   

In addition, GEO will soon debut a pilot program to deliver one compact flourescent bulb to every home in Shaker Heights (along with educational materials). You can support that campaign as a bulb donor or delivery person. 

As the days gets shorter, consider switching at least one light bulb in your home. It adds up.