LOS ANGELES -- Los Angeles residents can expect two free compact fluorescent light bulbs to be delivered to their front doors some time in the next three months as part of an energy-saving campaign announced Thursday by the Department of Water and Power.
The CFL light bulbs use less energy than incandescent bulbs. If all the distributed bulbs are put into use, it would save the DWP 240 gigawatt hours of energy a year -- enough to power 40,000 homes.
DWP crews will personally deliver two CFL light bulbs to 1.2 million households during the next 12 weeks.
"Today, the city of Los Angeles is leading again, bringing simple, effective energy-efficient tools door to door (for) every Angeleno. The Department of Water and Power is doing its part, and we want Angelenos to do theirs," said Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa.
Over the lifetime of the compact fluorescent light bulbs, which is about five years, the average Angeleno can expect to save about $100 on their energy bill. The DWP will save a total of $61.3 million in fuel costs through the program.
Distributing the light bulbs will cost the utility about $3 million.
Compact fluorescent light bulbs contain a small amount of mercury and therefore cannot be thrown away in the trash. To dispose of the CFLs, residents should take the light bulbs to a DWP center or hazardous materials site, both of which can be found online at www.LADWP.com or www.LACity.com.
