PSE Newsroom
PSE’s Rock the Bulb™ goes to 11!
11 Million CFL Bulbs Distributed Through Utility’s Programs since 2002, Saving Residential Customers $440 Million; Innovative 2009 Energy Efficiency Campaign Exceeds Goal by 25 Percent
BELLEVUE, Wash., October 26, 2009 - In the final month of its 16-week Rock the Bulb Tour, Puget Sound Energy has already shattered expectations by exceeding the utility’s campaign goal to distribute 400,000 free compact fluorescent light (CFL) bulbs. PSE projects it will distribute as many as 500,000 bulbs across Western Washington by the end of the month, exceeding the utility’s goal by 25 percent.
This will take the utility’s total of CFL bulbs distributed since 2002 to 11 million, which represents a total savings of more than $440 million region-wide over the lifetime of the bulbs.
Since kicking off the campaign in July, PSE has helped residential electric customers change out 450,000 ENERGY STAR®-qualified CFL bulbs, which use one-quarter of the energy of equivalent traditional light bulbs.
“Exceeding our bulb goal before the campaign ends is more evidence of our customer’s commitment to using energy wisely in this region,” said Cal Shirley, PSE vice president of Energy Efficiency Services. “Throughout this campaign, PSE residential electric customers have shown their commitment to saving energy, money and the environment by volunteering their time, taking the ENERGY STAR pledge, exchanging inefficient bulbs and accumulating points to win the Be An Energy Rock Star contest.”
When installed, the 500,000 CFL bulbs given away through PSE’s Rock the Bulb Tour will help PSE residential electric customers reduce their energy bills by more than $20 million and result in 127 million pounds of greenhouse gas emissions avoided – equal to taking about 10,500 cars off the road each year over the lifetime of the CFL bulbs.
PSE’s Rock the Bulb Tour promotes home energy efficiency by distributing CFL bulbs to PSE residential electric customers at 16 family-friendly weekend energy fairs, bulb exchange events, door-to-door outreach with nonprofit partner Project Porchlight and at community events in neighborhoods in the utility’s electric service area.
Customers also learned more about energy efficiency through the campaign’s “Be An Energy Rock Star” contest, CFL bulb scavenger hunt promotions, outreach to Sound Transit commuters and the ENERGY STAR Exhibit House at the Rock the Bulb weekend retail event in Auburn.
Because CFL bulbs use 75 percent less electricity than old-fashioned incandescent light bulbs and last up to 10 times longer, each bulb can save $40 or more in electricity costs over its lifetime. By replacing the 10 most frequently used lights in the home with CFL bulbs, residents can save $400 or more in energy costs over the life of the bulbs.
Since PSE began its energy-efficient lighting program in 2002, the utility has distributed more than 11 million CFL bulbs through rebates, giveaways and other programs within its electric service area – for an average of 11 CFL bulbs per household.
More PSE’s Rock the Bulb Tour fun to come:
- Final event. PSE residential electric customers can exchange up to 10 incandescent bulbs for free CFL bulbs, choosing from among six different styles, and participate in fun and educational activities that show how to lower home energy use at the final retail events this coming Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Event details:
| Oct. 31-Nov. 1 | Olympia Lowe’s Store, 30 Martin Way East | |
- Contest. The winners of PSE’s “Be an Energy Rock Star” contest will be announced mid-November. More than 7,000 PSE residential electric customers are competing for part of $45,000 in prizes from campaign partners for lowering their energy use from October 2008 to October 2009.
- Volunteer. PSE customers can volunteer to help distribute free CFL bulbs door-to-door and at community outreach events, including Rock the Bulb weekend events, through the end of October 2009. PSE customers can register to volunteer online at projectporchlight.org.
For more information about PSE’s Rock the Bulb Tour, visit PSE.com, rockthebulb.pse.com or follow at twitter.com/PSERockthebulb.
About Puget Sound Energy
Washington state’s oldest local energy utility, Puget Sound Energy serves more than 1 million electric customers and nearly 750,000 natural gas customers in 11 counties. A subsidiary of Puget Energy, PSE meets the energy needs of its growing customer base through incremental, cost-effective energy conservation, procurement of sustainable energy resources, and far-sighted investment in the energy-delivery infrastructure. PSE employees are dedicated to providing great customer service and delivering energy that is safe, reliable, reasonably priced, and environmentally responsible. For more information, visit www.PSE.com.
Contact information:
Puget Sound Energy
Rebekah Anderson, 1-888-831-7250