California Joins "Change a Light" Campaign To Cut Energy Waste

Sacramento - Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger joins a number of other governors in encouraging consumers to convert at least one standard light bulb in their home to a more energy efficient one - part of the ENERGY STAR's "Change a Light, Change the World" campaign.

"This is a perfect example of how small steps can effect big changes," said California Energy Commission Chairman Joseph Desmond. "The energy your home uses can cause more greenhouse gas emissions than your car creates. Cut your home energy use, you reduce pollution from power plants. That's why changing just one 75 watt light in your home to a more energy efficient 20 watt Energy Star bulb or fixture can be as good for the environment as not driving your car for more than two weeks."

Energy Star-qualified lighting provides warm, bright light while using only one-third the energy. It generates only one-third as much heat as a regular incandescent light bulb and lasts up to ten times longer.

"Replacing the one light bulb you use often in your home with an Energy Star model can save your family an estimated $60 year in energy costs," said Desmond. "If every Californian household did that, together we would keep more than one billion pounds of greenhouse gasses out of our air - the same effect as removing over 117,000 cars from the road. It would save California consumers $78.5 million on their electricity bills each year."

Typically, the five most used lights in a home are found in the kitchen ceiling, in living room table and floor lamps, in the bathroom, and outdoors on a porch or post.

Energy Star is a voluntary energy efficiency program run by the U.S. Department of Energy and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Only the top 25 percent of products in a category can earn the Energy Star label.

SOURCE: California Energy Commission