Saving Energy and Money Really Is as Easy as a Twist of The Wrist

Vinton—Iowa residents are about to discover that saving energy and money really is as easy as a twist of the wrist. From Sept. 1, 2011, through Dec. 16, 2011, residential electric customers of Vinton Municipal Electric Utility (City of Vinton) are eligible for special pricing that will allow them to purchase ENERGY STAR® qualified compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) at participating retailers. (Limit 12 CFLs per customer, while supplies last.) ENERGY STAR qualified CFLs last up to 10 times longer than traditional incandescent light bulbs and provides the same light output, but use up to 75 percent less energy. Because lighting accounts for about 20 percent of electricity costs in the average home, this can result in significant household savings. Each CFL saves an average of $30 in energy costs over their lifetime, and by replacing the five most-used bulbs in a home with energy-efficient CFLs, families can save $35 in energy costs during the first year alone. While these financial savings are a big draw for consumers, CFLs offer environmental benefits as well. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), if every home in America replaced just one incandescent light bulb with an ENERGY STAR qualified CFL, we would save enough energy to light more than three million homes for one year and reduce pollution by the equivalent of taking more than 800,000 cars off the road. "Switching to energy-efficient lighting is a simple and effective first step toward saving energy at home while helping the environment at the same time,” said Utility Manager Rick Ohrt. “We are offering special pricing on CFLs to make this step even easier for our customers and to show our continued commitment to making a difference in the community.” Today’s CFLs produce bright, warm light at less cost to consumers because they use less electricity and last longer than incandescent bulbs, saving time and money on replacements. With the wide range of CFL shapes, sizes, and styles now on the market, consumers can find an energy-efficient bulb for every situation and enjoy reduced energy costs all year long. Source: communitynewspapergroup.com