| More
Than 1 Million CFL Bulbs Sold in Program |
By Leslie Perales
Observer Staff Writer |
| When Dominion Virginia Power and Home Depot stores in Virginia
paired up to sell compact fluorescent light bulbs at a reduced
price last October they only expected to sell about 150,000.
Since then, more than 1 million have been purchased at an
average of 40,000 to 45,000 bought every week. |
| Through the partnership, bulbs purchased at 38 Home Depot
stores in Virginia are reduced in price by $1.50 for a single
bulb and $3 for a multi-pack of bulbs. "The response by the
consumers was just phenomenal, just outstanding," said Robert
Fulton, weatherization spokesman for Dominion. |
| Fulton said the bulbs bought by customers through the program
will make a big impact on energy conservation. According to
the Environmental Protection Agency, the CFL bulbs use only
about a quarter of the energy as a regular incandescent bulb
and last about 10 times longer. |
| The million bulbs sold will equate to taking 50,000 cars
off the road for one year, Fulton said. It will also reduce
carbon dioxide emissions by 280,000 tons and will save consumers
more than $50 million over the life of those bulbs, he said.
|
| On March 13, Dominion presented the millionth bulb purchaser,
Jenna Caudillo, with a $100 gift certificate toward any Energy
Star appliance at Home Depot. The gift certificate was presented
to her at the Reston Home Depot, where Dominion provided customers
with information about ways to conserve energy. "It's really
exciting," Caudillo said. "It's amazing they've sold that
many bulbs in this area." |
| Two years ago Caudillo began trying to conserve more energy
in her home, including using CFL bulbs, she said. She has
yet to replace a CFL bulb. Though the bulbs may take a bit
to get used to, she said, she hardly notices a difference
now. Caudillo said she hopes people will keep purchasing the
bulbs because they will have a positive long-term impact on
the environment. Caudillo also said she plans to use her gift
certificate to replace her washer and dryer. |
| Fulton said the program began because many consumers are
trying to be more responsible in regards to their energy consumption
and costs and this is a great way to encourage others to do
so. Some countries and localities are mandating the use of
CFL bulbs over incandescent bulbs, he said. "It certainly
goes a long way toward conservation and reducing energy costs
for the consumer," Fulton said. |
| Pierre Lundy, sales manager at the Reston Home Depot, said
the program has done great things in many ways. "It's great
for the store because it creates great customer awareness,"
he said. "It's only going to help the customer as well as
the environment." |
| Home Depot has been trying to carry more environmentally
friendly products such as non-hazardous drain cleaners and
caulk and organic soil, Lundy said. "Almost any department
that you go into there are green products that are eco-friendly,"
he said. |
| In addition to offering discounted CFL bulbs, Dominion is
working to help consumers conserve in other ways. On the Dominion
Web site, consumers can find home and business energy calculators
where they can enter information about their appliances and
usage and find ways to reduce their energy bill, Fulton said.
They also have energy-saving tips, information about energy
efficient home building and ways to solve comfort problems.
|
| Le-Ha Anderson, manager of media and community relations
for Dominion, said they expect the CFL bulb customer savings
program to continue through December 2009. |
