Posted: 03/28/07

Seeing the light
Fluorescent bulbs could make incandescent lighting a thing of the past

Robert Zodda | contributing writer
rzodda@smcvt.edu

People from California to Australia are seeing the light — and the benefits — of fluorescent lighting.

California lawmakers are currently considering a ban preventing the sale of incandescent lighting by the year 2012. The Australian government is also looking at a similar ban.

American superstore, Wal-Mart, is getting in on the action with its recently announced, “Change a light, Change the world,” campaign. The superstore hopes to double its sales of the more efficient fluorescent light bulbs by 2008.

“Change a light, change the world.”

The “Change a light, change the world” campaign was announced on Nov. 29, 2006, and it aims to promote sales of 100 million compact fluorescent light (CFL) bulbs by the end of 2007. If successful, this campaign has the potential to save consumers up to $3 billion in electric costs over the life of the CFL bulbs, according to the Wal-Mart Web site.

If an average home, with approximately 30 light fixtures, switched to all fluorescent bulbs, the bulbs would save about $1000 over their lifetime, Wal-Mart's Web site claims. (photo, Izabela Socha)

When asked what inspired this campaign, Wal-Mart spokeswoman, Marisa Bluestone wrote in an e-mail interview, “We have a fundamental belief that all families should have compact fluorescent light (CFL) bulbs.”

“The working families and small businesses that are our consumers will not only save money when shopping with us, but on their electric bills, all the while benefiting the environment,” she wrote.

Fluorescent light uses 80 percent less power than incandescent. Wal-Mart’s Web site claims that if every one of its more than 100 million customers used one CFL bulb, it would prevent 45 billion pounds of greenhouse gasses from being emitted. This is equal to removing 700,000 car-produced greenhouse gases from the air.

Additionally, it would prevent 22 billion pounds of coal from being burned at power plants, thus conserving our resources.

However, aside from being more environmentally friendly, fluorescent lighting is also more cost efficient.

According the Wal-Mart’s Web site, although a fluorescent bulb may seem expensive at $3 each, they last eight-to-12-times longer than an incandescent bulb.

The Web site also claims that if an average home, with approximately 30 light fixtures, switched to all fluorescent bulbs, the bulbs would save about $1000 over their lifetime.

On its Web site, Wal-Mart says it saves $7 million annually just from using CFL bulbs in its ceiling fan displays.

Home Depot features displays of fluorescent bulbs in it's stores. (photo, Izabela Socha).

Bluestone wrote Wal-Mart the campaign is progressing well.

"The response and interest from customers has been positive,” she wrote. “We’ve also taken steps to raise awareness, by increasing the product mix, raising ENERGY STAR labeled CFLs to eye level, adding 40 percent more CFL shelf space, and setting up additional displays in the aisles. We are on our way to reaching [our] goal.”

Taking up a challenge

Wal-Mart, however, is not the only one making changes.

Efficiency Vermont, an independent, non-profit organization under contract to the Vermont Public Service Board, has a goal, “to help all Vermonters save energy, reduce energy costs and protect Vermont's environment,” according to its Web site.

In July 2005, the group launched the "Manchester Challenge," from the idea of Middlebury college student, Thomas Hand.

“We negotiated back and forth and agreed to sell 40,000 CFLs in Manchester over a period of approximately six months,” says Mike Russom, retail efficient marketing manager of Efficiency Vermont.

According to Russom, the challenge was successful and received positive feedback from consumers.

“Overall, in those six months, 42,000 CFLs were sold," Russum says. "They exceeded their goal.”

Green-up takes action

St. Michael’s college students are attempting to make incandescent lighting a thing of the past.

Boxes of eco-friendly fluorescent bulbs fill St. Michael's shipping and receiving. (photo, Izabela Socha)

Green-Up, the school’s environmental club, has been studying energy use at St. Michael’s, as well as in the state of Vermont.

The group has made CFLs available for students and faculty on campus, and encouraged students to trade in their incandescent bulbs.

CFLs have also been made available for anyone to take at the Women’s Center.

“We had a lot of them and they’ve gone quickly,” Kim Swartz, director of the Women's Center says. “They’ve gone quickly because Green-Up held a vegetarian dinner here a couple of weeks ago. We replaced what we could here, however, some of our lights won’t accommodate [CFLs].”

Although it will take time for Wal-Mart and others to convince all consumers of the advantages of fluorescent lighting, the switch from incandescent to fluorescent is gaining popularity in Vermont, as well as all over the world.

Bluestone says she thinks this is because, “When consumers can save can save money and feel good about the environmental impact their purchases are having, the lasting effects are profound."