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Aiken Electric Cooperative Members Get the “Green” Light

(Aiken, SC) Aiken Electric Cooperative is once again encouraging its members to save energy, save money and help save the planet. The utility has joined with the state’s other 19 electric cooperatives in offering complimentary energy efficient compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) to its members.

In late April, each household served by Aiken Electric Cooperative will receive one free CFL in the mail as part of the “Do the Light Switch” program. Nearly two million CFLs have been distributed since the statewide program began last year.

“We’re providing an option for our members to reduce their energy use and save money on their power bills without giving up comfort,” said Gary Stooksbury, CEO of Aiken Electric Cooperative. One 75-watt equivalent CFL will save an average of $44 over its lifetime. Switching to CFLs in your home’s most used light fixtures will save you even more money. And those bulbs will last 6-10 times longer than a standard incandescent bulb.

The reason CFLs save money is because they use a lot less energy than ordinary bulbs, about 75-percent less. If every household in South Carolina changed just one ordinary bulb to a CFL, up to 83 million kilowatt-hours of electricity would be saved each year. That’s enough energy to light all of the homes in Columbia for a year.

CFLs are also good for the environment. Because they use less energy, CFLs lessen the amount of greenhouse gases released into the atmosphere. One bulb will prevent nearly 600 pounds of greenhouse gas emissions over its lifetime.

CFLs do contain a very small amount of mercury sealed within the glass tubing—an average of 5 milligrams, which is roughly equivalent to an amount that would cover the tip of a ballpoint pen. No mercury is released when the bulbs are intact or in use. By comparison, older thermometers contain about 500 milligrams of mercury. It would take 100 CFLs to equal that amount. Mercury currently is an essential component of CFLs and is what allows the bulb to be an efficient light source. Many manufacturers have taken significant steps to reduce mercury used in their fluorescent lighting products.

Aiken Electric Cooperative encourages recycling of CFLs. Members can bring used, unbroken bulbs to any co-op office for recycling. Home Depot stores throughout South Carolina also recycle used CFLs.

Aiken Electric, a Touchstone Energy Cooperative, is a customer-owned, nonprofit electric utility currently serving more than 44,000 customers in a nine county area in South Carolina.

 Aiken Electric Cooperative members will soon be banking their savings with another energy-saving CFL on the way. In the spirit of recycling, you can use the packaging as a bank.