How much energy do energy-efficient light bulbs save?
A. Energy-efficient light bulbs-also known as compact fluorescent lights, or CFLs-use one-third the energy and provide the same amount of light as incandescent bulbs. CFLs can last seven to 10 times longer than traditional bulbs. Ask your storekeeper for a rebate form, and you’ll get money back from Efficiency Vermont for up to six CFLs. QDoes using fluorescent bulbs offer any other benefits? A. Good question. Because they use less energy, fluorescent bulbs actually help reduce the amount of pollution caused by energy production – including the emission of mercury (from coal combustion) into the environment. When you use compact fluorescent lights, you reduce mercury pollution by lowering the demand for electricity from power plants that emit mercury. A power plant will emit 10 mg of mercury to produce the electricity to run one incandescent bulb compared to only 2.4 mg to run a compact fluorescent light for the same time. Switching to fluorescents may also help reduce global warming,
