MEDIA RELEASE
The Kohala Center, Hawaii Energy, and the County of Hawaii invite the public to pick up free Compact Florescent Light (CFL) bulbs and energy efficiency information in Hilo and Kona from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, Oct 16, while supplies last.
Some 1,700 bulbs will be given away on a first-come, first-served basis in front of the Hilo Walmart and outside of KTA in the Kona Coast Shopping Center and Safeway in the Kona Crossroads Shopping Center.
Limit one package (three bulbs) per family.
CFL bulbs need less electricity to produce the same amount of light. With an average use of three hours per day, you can save up to $24 per year for each CFL that replaces an incandescent bulb.
For more information about CFL bulbs and energy efficiency initiatives, visit www.hawaiienergy.com
This event kicks off an islandwide effort to build family and community wealth and reduce the island’s carbon footprint through simple energy efficiency measures taken by Hawaii’s households.
This initiative is sponsored by The Kohala Center, Hawaii Energy, and the County of Hawaii. The Kohala Center is a community-based independent center, which builds educational and research programs focusing on energy self-reliance, food self-reliance, and ecosystem health.
Hawaii Energy is a ratepayer-funded conservation and efficiency program administered by R. W. BECK (an SAIC Company) under contract with the Hawaii Public Utilities Commission serving the islands of Hawaii, Lanai, Maui, Molokai, and Oahu.
For additional information on the County’s energy plan, visit www.hawaiicountyrandd.net/energy
For information on the giveaway, contact Caroline Neary at cneary@kohalacenter.orgor 345-0238.
It is great that we are promoting energy conscious choices through the distribution of more energy efficient lamps. Many people however are not aware that cfl bulbs contain trace amounts of mercury and when they have completed their lifecycle should be disposed of correctly. CFL’s are considered biohazardous waste and need proper disposal. Since so many lightbulbs are used on a daily basis and so many are being disposed of those trace amounts can become a significant contaminant to the environment if just thrown in the trash. We need to develop systems and places for dropping off our burnt out cfl’s to be handled appropriately. Does anyone know if such sites exist?
The Home Depot has a free recycle program for CFLs. There is a drop box right inside the entrance.