BWL has given away 35,000 CFL bulbs;
more giveaways planned for 2010
The Lansing Board of Water & Light’s program to deliver free compact fluorescent
light bulbs to customers has far exceeded expectations, General Manager J. Peter Lark
said today.
“In a matter of weeks, we received close to 9,000 requests for free CFLs. This is
proof-positive that our customers are as serious about greater energy efficiency as we
are,” Lark said.
CFL “kits” are mailed directly to residential customers’ homes after customers fill
out a form. The kits include four CFL bulbs: Two 13-watt bulbs, one 20-watt and one
23-watt bulb.
Because of the overwhelming demand and limited supply, the BWL is temporarily
suspending further CFL giveaways until January 2010. Some customers who have
applied for a CFL kit but have not received one will still have a kit mailed to them this
year. Customers who applied after the CFL supply was exhausted will receive a “rain
check” for kits when they become available early next year.
Each CFL kit can save customers up to $120 on electric bills over the bulbs’
lifetime. A CFL is 75 percent more efficient than an old-fashioned incandescent light
bulb. CFLs last far longer than incandescent bulbs – up to 10,000 hours compared to
1,000 hours.
The BWL encourages customers to recycle CFL bulbs. To assist customers, the
BWL has partnered with nearly 20 area retail stores, which will accept CFLs for
recycling. The BWL’s Customer Service Center, 1232 Haco Drive, Lansing, also accepts
spent CFLs.
Customers can call 1-877-NRG-LBWL (674-5295) with questions.
The BWL is Michigan’s largest public utility, serving more than 96,000 electric
customers.
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