Southern California Edison Customers Shine Bright by Installing More Than 1 Million CFLs

ROSEMEAD, Calif.— Southern California Edison (SCE) customers have seen the light: since October 2007, more than 100,000 customers installed at least 1 million energy-efficient ENERGY STAR CFL (compact fluorescent lamp) bulbs as part of the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) ENERGY STAR “Change a Light, Change the World” campaign.

The result is a total energy cost savings of nearly $27 million to the customers, the equivalent of avoiding the creation of 420 million pounds of greenhouse gas emissions.

“ENERGY STAR partners like SCE are helping us all address climate change,” said Kathleen Hogan, the director of EPA’s Climate Protection Partnerships Division. “Their ENERGY STAR outreach is helping people become part of the solution. Fighting climate change starts by taking energy-saving steps at home as simple as changing a light to ENERGY STAR.”

One way SCE helped its customers to swap out the bulbs is through subsidies to manufacturers. Customers throughout SCE’s service territory can buy discounted bulbs at more than 2,000 retail outlets. In addition, those customers who take the free home-energy survey online, via phone or in person also receive a complimentary CFL.

“We are proud and thrilled that our customers have taken these simple steps to save energy, money and protect the environment,” said Lynda Ziegler, SCE senior vice president, Customer Service. “Swapping out a light bulb or two may not seem like a big deal, but this effort shows that every little bit really does help.”

Benefits of CFLS

* CFLs use about a quarter of the energy of a regular incandescent bulb and can last up to 10 years.
* CFLs release almost no heat, which helps cut down on the need for air conditioning.
* If every California household replaced five incandescent light bulbs with CFLs, it would be the carbon-reduction equivalent of taking more than 400,000 cars off the road.
* CFLs now are available in bright and soft lights, as well as a variety of shapes and sizes, so they can replace any bulb.

SCE encourages environmentally responsible disposal of CFLs, which contain a trace amount of mercury. For information on proper disposal of CFLs, visit www.sce.com/cfl. In addition, all Home Depot stores now accept CFLs for recycling.

SCE leads the nation in energy efficiency

Over the past five years, SCE’s energy-efficiency programs have achieved the largest energy savings of any utility in the nation. The programs have reduced greenhouse gas emissions by more than 2 million tons — the equivalent of removing 250,000 cars from the road.

SCE customers have reduced annual energy usage by more than 1 billion kilowatt-hours, enough power to supply 140,000 average homes for a year. During the next two years, SCE will help customers save an additional 2 billion kilowatt-hours, reducing greenhouse gas emissions by approximately 1 million tons.

Other SCE energy-efficiency programs include:

* Refrigerator and freezer recycling: SCE will pay customers $50 to turn in their old, inefficient refrigerators or freezers, which can cost up to $290 per year to operate. The utility will pick up old, inefficient models and recycle them in an environmentally responsible manner. Customers also are eligible for $50 rebates for buying new, ENERGY STAR-labeled refrigerators.
* Energy-efficiency rebates: SCE provides rebates for efficient, ENERGY STAR-labeled fans, coolers and air conditioners. Customers can receive the following rebates:
o $50 for room or wall air conditioners.
o $50 for a whole-house fan.
o Up to $600 for evaporative cooling systems.
o Incentives of 10 to 20 cents per square foot for using reflective roof materials when replacing an old roof. This can reduce roof temperatures by 60 percent.
o $200 when replacing an old pool pump with a new, efficient two-speed or variable-speed pumps.