Southern Energy Company Entergy Takes Pledges to Change-A-Light

Today Entergy Corporation announced that it has taken in 7,800 pledges from employees and customers to change out the traditional incandescent light bulbs to energy efficient compact fluorescent lamps or light bulbs (CFLs). The pledges will account for a total switch of more than 20,000 bulbs, as those making the pledge will change three or more bulbs in their homes.

This Change a Light, Change the World campaign was the first such campaign that Entergy initiated, and is in conjunction with a similar federally sponsored campaign that the Environmental Protection Agency launched last month. Entergy had initially hoped for 2,500 pledges, but that number was surpassed by more than three times that amount. Entergy pulled in so many pledges that it came in the top ten for individual pledge drivers in the US.

The EPA and its Energy Star Program employed the use of a bus tour last month to get the word out about energy-efficient lighting choices. Nearly 900 private organizations and businesses joined in the effort to work on raising awareness locally. The EPA estimates that if every household changed just one light bulb, it could cut energy emissions that would be the equivalent of over 800,000 cars or $600 million in costs. Energy-efficient CFLs and other forms of light bulbs use three-quarters less the amount of energy a traditional incandescent bulb requires, and they last more than 50,000 hours.

Just the 20,000 bulbs that Entergy pledges will change will reduce greenhouse gas emissions and save more than nine million kilowatt hours of electricity. Entergy's director of energy efficiency, Bernie Steen, added to the Entergy press release, "Demonstrating ways to save the environment and save money creates a win-win situation for everyone."

Entergy increased awareness for its Change a Light, Change the World campaign with the help of such high-profile events as changing out incandescent light bulbs with CFLs at the Governor's Mansion in Louisiana. The President of Entergy even changed light bulbs himself in New Orleans to kick off the Change a Light, Change the World campaign in early October.

Entergy is responsible for powering 2.6 million homes and other buildings in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas. Entergy prides itself on its environmental record as the first utility to reduce greenhouse gas emissions at its generating plant voluntarily as well as committing the company to reducing emissions even more over the next five years. Last month, Corporate Responsibility Officer magazine named Entergy a top ten "corporate citizen" for 2007.

Sources: Entergy Corporation, Environmental Protection Agency