Successful program goes year-round and offers free, safe CFL recycling
LOVELAND, COLO - Platte River Power Authority and Loveland Water and Power have brought back last year's successful Lighting With A Twist with a couple of new twists. Customers of Water and Power can now save money year-round.
The second twist this year is that Platte River has teamed up with Orchards Ace Hardware and Mercury Technologies to provide a free, safe location to recycle old or broken compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs).
Last year, from September 15 through December 15, Platte River and Loveland Water and Power teamed up to provide customers of Orchards Ace Hardware, Collins Cashway Lumber, The Home Depot, Lighting Designs, Sam’s Club and Lowe’s money off at the cash register when purchasing energy-saving CFLs. The almost 59,000 bulbs that were purchased over the three months will save approximately 1,164,000 kWh (kilowatt-hours) annually--enough electricity to power about 145 Loveland homes for a year and save close to 815 tons of carbon dioxide annually.
"We have gone to a year-round offer based on the success of last year's efforts," said Adam Perry, energy services specialist at Platte River. "Our in-store educational events were popular and we will be having more of them during the year."
Results of a survey conducted by Platte River shows that the percentage of area residents who have heard of CFLs increased from 78 percent to 90 percent as a result last fall's Lighting With a Twist campaign, and the average number of CFLs installed in a home increased from seven to 10. According to survey respondents, the top three reasons for purchasing CFLs were to save/conserve energy, to reduce electricity bills and to take advantage of their longer life.
"Lighting With A Twist is a great program for Loveland Water and Power customers. With the new twist this year on CFL recycling, we have taken a great program and made it extraordinary," said Erick Rheam, customer relations manager at Loveland Water and Power.
A partnership between Platte River, Orchards Ace Hardware, Mercury Technologies and the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment now provides Loveland residents a safe location to recycle used and broken CFLs without charge. Compact fluorescent light bulbs use up to 75 percent less energy and last up to 10 times longer than typical incandescent light bulbs. However, CFLs contain a small amount of mercury -- about as much as the period at the end of this sentence -- that must be recycled appropriately.
According to Mercury Technologies, the recycling company contracted to handle the spent bulbs, their no landfill policy means they recycle each piece of the CFL, including the glass, mercury, metal, circuit board, plastic, and lead.
Special prices on CFLs are valid only while supplies last. Product selection, pricing and purchase limits vary from store to store. The recycling and lighting offers are funding by Platte River and similar programs can also be found through Estes Park Light & Power, Fort Collins Utilities and Longmont Power & Communications.
More information can be found at www.lightingwithatwist.com
About Platte River Power Authority
Platte River generates and delivers reliable, low-cost and environmentally responsible electricity to its owner communities of Estes Park, Fort Collins, Longmont and Loveland, Colorado, where it is distributed by each municipal utility to residents and businesses. For more information, please visit, www.prpa.org.
Sidebar:
How to clean up a broken CFL
1. gently sweep up pieces
2. put into a sealable plastic bag
3. take to an approved disposal site
Sidebar 2:
Participating CFL Retailers and Residential Recycling Drop-off Locations
• Orchards Ace Hardware (CFL recycling available)
• The Home Depot
• Collins Cashway Lumber
• Lighting Designs & More (CFL recycling available)