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Saving energy one bulb at a time
If you're looking to cut energy costs at home, then the West Virginia Division of Energy has a bright idea for you.
Using about 75 percent less energy than a traditional incandescent light bulb, compact fluorescent lighting (CFL) offers an efficient approach to lighting your home. The bulbs can last up to 10 times longer than incandescents and are also safer by not producing as much heat, according to the West Virginia Division of Energy.
"These are pretty amazing lights," said Jeff Herholdt, director of the West Virginia Division of Energy. "To think that one-third of the energy being used in your house is in your lights -- these can save you 30 to 40 percent on those lights."
According to Bill Willis, program coordinator of West Virginia Division of Energy, the CFL's unique shape plays a part in how the bulb works. He says they are much like a fluorescent bulb you would see in an office, only its tube is twisted and arched to fit the shape of a normal light socket.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is hosting a national campaign to recommend homeowners to switch to energy efficient light bulbs. According to Energy Star, a joint program of the EPA, if every American home switched just one of their light bulbs to an Energy Star qualified light bulb, we would save enough energy to light more than 3 million homes for a year.
"Adapting to these light bulbs will help by reducing residential energy costs," said Willis. "That's something we're all trying to do. It's just one step you can take to lower your energy dependence."
Although these bulbs are more efficient and last longer, Andy Paladino, store manager of Barboursville's Target, says that the traditional incandescent bulbs are still the top seller.
"The incandescent bulbs are being sold more, but overall, the sale of the new bulbs have increased," Paladino said. "They're doing more to promote them now with how good they are for the environment."
CFL bulbs may be considered safer because of the heat factor, but they do contain a minimal amount of mercury sealed within the glass, which poses a danger if the bulb were to break. Energy Star's Web site, www.energystar.gov, lists many precautions to take if the glass breaks, including providing proper ventilation and how to pick up the glass without using your hands.
When disposing of a CFL bulb, place it in a sealed plastic bag or a jar. Ideally, the bulbs can be recycled at a local recycling center; however, the closest recycling center that accepts fluorescent light bulbs is in Charleston. Check with your state's Division of Environmental Protection for further information regarding the safe disposal of fluorescent light bulbs.
