Lighting

A US military campaign to save energy by switching to energy efficient compact fluorescent light (CFLs) bulbs claims a major success.

Since its launch in April this year, 84 military bases have installed nearly 360,000 CFLs, which will save $11 million in energy costs and over 68,000 metric tons of CO₂ over the lifetime of the bulbs.

The general use of CFLs continues to grow rapidly, according to a report from the Worldwatch Institute. In the US, for example, sales of CFLs grew 343% between 2000 and 2004. By 2007, CFLs accounted for 20% of light bulb sales in the US.

Use of CFLs is even higher in Japan (80% of households) and Germany (50% of households). Even developing nations such as China and Brazil are seeing rapid growth in the market share of CFLs.

For further information:
www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=oco.op_changeout
www.worldwatch.org/node/6183?utm_campaign=vital_signs_online&utm_medium=email&utm_source=cfl&emc=el&m=157616&l=4&v=1faabbf2b4

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US military launches operation light bulb (23-April)