With the days getting shorter and illumination more important, Energize Connecticut is pushing businesses and residents to upgrade their lighting, dispelling some myths about energy-efficient light bulbs.
Energize Connecticut is the new name for joint marketing efforts by the Connecticut Energy Efficiency Fund and the Clean Energy Finance & Investment Authority. The goal is to entice businesses and residents to use energy more efficiently and from cleaner sources.
The organization is encouraging a switch from incandescent light bulbs to compact florescent lights or light-emitted diodes, which offer greater efficiency.
To encourage the change, Energize Connecticut wants to debunk the myth that CFLs and LEDs are only available in certain shapes, when in fact they are available in numerous shapes.
The organization also points out that light from CFLs and LEDs looks a lot like natural light or a incandescent bulb, not the harsh light that detractors claim.
LEDs and CFLs are more expensive than incandescent, which cost 50 cents, but they last longer and use less energy. CFLs cost $2-$5, use 75 percent less energy, and last up to 11 years. LEDs cost more than CFLs, use 80 percent less energy, and last up to 25 years.
