As the costs to heat, cool and power a residence continue to rise, many home-owners are looking for ways to maximize their energy usage and reduce expenses. One simple way to reduce electrical consumption in the home or office is to utilize energy-saving compact fluorescent lamps (CFL) instead of traditional incandescent light bulbs.

West Virginia University faculty, staff and students along with community members can receive two CFL bulbs for free, when they exchange incandescent light bulbs during theChange a Light: Change the Worldevent from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Monday, Oct. 1, in the Mountainlair Commons.

The program, sponsored by WVU Facilities Management, the Center for Civic Engagement and Sylvania, is part of a year long series of events called WE CAN (WVU Environmental Conservation Awareness Now) aimed at increasing awareness about energy conservation and other sustainability issues.

All incandescent bulbs received from the program will be recycled.

We are continuing the WE CAN program on campus with residence hall contests and other activities and wanted to stage an event that would provide an immediate impact on our conservation efforts,said Barbara Angeletti, WE CAN program co-coordinator.The CFL bulbs are easy to replace, last longer than conventional bulbs, use less electricity and will ultimately reduce the amount of pollution entering the atmosphere. Its a win-win for everyone.

Fluorescent bulbs have been used widely in the workplace for over 50 years, but only recently has technology resulted in changes to the bulb that have made them more attractive to home owners.

According to the Sylvania Web site,http://www.sylvania.com,CFL bulbs save up to 75 percent of the energy that traditional bulbs use and can last 6,000-10,000 hours. Compared with incandescent bulbs that typically last about 750 hours, the CFL bulbs can represent savings in energy use and replacement costs.

In addition, a CFL bulb can reduce up to a half-ton of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere as compared with a traditional bulb.

The old days of a flickering, buzzing fluorescent light are over,Angeletti said.The new CFL bulbs provide a warm light and are so easy to use. I actually have them in every light in my home.

For more information, visit:http://wecan.wvu.edu