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 Replacing your old incandescent light bulbs with environmentally-friendly, energy-efficient compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) is one way you can conserve energy and save money. CFLs last up to 10 times longer than incandescents, consume as much as 2/3 less energy than incandescents, and cost less money in the long run. In fact, you can save up to $30 in energy costs over the lifetime of each CFL you use instead of a traditional incandescent bulb.
CFLs can last up to 6,000 hours before burning out and put out much less heat than incandescent bulbs. While CFLs do cost more than incandescent light bulbs-from $3 to $15 per bulb compared with less than $1 per incandescent bulb-CFLs use about two-thirds less energy. The latest CFLs are much improved over those slow-to-turn-on, pale-white bulbs of the past. So why not try replacing some of your old bulbs with CFLs.
But did you know that CFLs cannot be thrown in the trash? CFLs contain a tiny amount of mercury, about the size of the tip end of a ball-point pen. That's much less than the amount contained in old thermometers that may still be in your medicine cabinet. But because they do contain mercury, CFLs must be disposed of properly.
To help the people and the communities it serves, Southern Pine Electric Cooperative now offers a free CFL recycling program. Simply bring your burned-out or broken CFLs to your local Southern Pine office and drop them off at the recycling station located in each Southern Pine office lobby, Monday - Friday, 7:30 a.m. till 4:30 p.m. Southern Pine will handle the rest for you!
It's just another way your electric co-op is looking out for you!
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