Dominion’s Residential Lighting Program ended on December 31, 2011.
In September 2011, Dominion Virginia Power filed with the Virginia State Corporation Commission for a second phase of the program that promotes the switch to energy-saving compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) and light emitting diode (LED) light bulbs, which exceed minimum efficiency standards. If approved, the program is expected to launch June 2012. Dominion has not yet filed for a second phase of the program in North Carolina.
Replacing your standard incandescent light bulbs with efficient CFLs is an easy and cost effective way to practice energy conservation in your home. CFLs not only use approximately 75% less energy, they can last up to 10 times longer than traditional incandescent bulbs.
Calculations based on information from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency found that purchases of approximately 7.8 million bulbs through Dominion’s discount programs since 2007 are projected to reduce emissions of carbon dioxide by more than 1.7 million tons, or the equivalent of removing approximately 305,000 cars from the road for a year.
You can increase the environmental benefits of CFLs by disposing of used bulbs properly. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommends that consumers take advantage of available local recycling options for CFLs. To learn more about the very small amount of mercury in CFLs, visit the ENERGYSTAR® factsheet.
For a full list of Virginia recycling vendors, please visit the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality's website.
The cool-burning illumination of a CFL is made possible by a trace amount (5 milligrams) of mercury, an amount that would cover the tip of a ballpoint pen. The EPA recommends taking the following steps:
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