Minnesota Pollution Control Agency

Contact: Barbara Skoglund, 651-296-5965 Saint Paul, Minn. -- The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency and the Minnesota Department of Commerce remind homeowners, apartment dwellers and businesses of the advantages to replacing incandescent lighting with ENERGY STAR labeled compact fluorescent lights (CFLs). Minnesotans are also reminded that fluorescent bulbs contain a small amount of mercury and should not be placed in the garbage. CFLs are considered a household hazardous waste and need proper disposal and recycling. Six big reasons to make the switch today are: 1. Save money. You can save $30 or more during the life of each light bulb. Start by replacing the bulbs in the rooms you use the most. Reduce your electricity costs right away by replacing incandescent bulbs before they expire. The price of CFLs has dropped dramatically during the last few years, increasing the affordability of switching. Don't forget, they last longer, too. The ENERGY STAR standard for CFL life is 8,000 hours while a standard 75 watt bulb may only last for 750 hours. 2. Brighter light. While early CFLs didn't match the brightness of old fashioned light bulbs, newer models are brighter and available in different shades. Pick the right light for the job. Today's ENERGY STAR labels show accurate equivalent replacement wattage. Choose a higher lumen, cool colored bulb for task lighting and use the warmer tones for general lighting. A home lighting guide is available by calling 800-657-3710 or visiting the Department of Commerce Web site at www.commerce.state.mn.us and searching for, "home lighting." 3. More choices. The variety of CFLs available has greatly expanded. They come in a variety of shapes and sizes and fit more fixtures than ever. Outdoor lights and dimmer models are now available. For more information on ENERGY STAR lighting visit www.energystar.gov. 4. Save energy. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and U.S. Department of Energy, "If every American home replaced just one light bulb with an ENERGY STAR, we would save enough energy to light more than 2.5 million homes for a year." 5. Improve the environment. The EPA and DOE also note that if we all change one bulb Americans would "prevent greenhouse gases equivalent to the emissions of nearly 800,000 cars." 6. Recycle. Don't toss old CFLs in the trash - it's against the law. Contact your county household hazardous or solid waste management office for disposal options in your area. You can also call 800-CLEANUP or visit www.earth911.org for recycling locations. Because fluorescent lights contain a very small amount of mercury, they need proper disposal and recycling. No mercury is released with proper use. The environmental benefits of using CFLs far outweigh the use of mercury in their production. A coal-fired power plant emits more than four times the mercury to power an incandescent light than is used in a CFL.