News Release 436

CHANGE A LIGHT, CHANGE THE WORLD

Missouri Citizens Can Save Money, Energy and the
Environment With The Twist of Energy Efficient Light Bulbs

Volume 35-436

Contact: Kerry Cordray

(For immediate release)

573-526-4220

JEFFERSON CITY, MO, OCT. 2, 2007 -- The Department of Natural Resources’ Energy Center, eight Missouri utilities and 58 retailers have joined the 2007 “Change A Light, Change The World” campaign to help Missouri customers save money and energy with a twist of an ENERGY STAR? qualified compact fluorescent light bulb (CFL). It’s a quick and easy solution to lowering utility bills in addition to saving energy and protecting the environment.

Coordinated by the Midwest Energy Efficiency Alliance (MEEA), the Missouri program is being held in conjunction with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) national “ENERGY STAR Change a Light, Change the World” campaign.

From October 1 through December 31, 2007, sponsors are encouraging Missouri residents to “Change the World” one light, one step at a time by replacing their home’s five most frequently used light fixtures, or the bulbs in them, with ENERGY STAR qualified CFLs. In the average home, the most frequently used fixtures are: kitchen ceiling dome light, living room table lamp, living room floor lamp, bathroom vanity light and outdoor porch or post lamp. By making this change, a household can save at least $60 a year in energy costs in addition to protecting the environment.

The Energy Center and other sponsors are helping Missouri residents make the simple switch to energy-efficient lighting by offering $2 instant rebates on ENERGY STAR qualified CFL purchases while supplies last. With the instant rebates, the CFLs will sell for as little as $0.99 at select retail locations.

Missouri utilities helping sponsor the CFL sales in their areas are AmerenUE, Aquila, Inc., City Utilities of Springfield (CU), Columbia Water & Light, Crawford Electric Cooperative, Empire District Electric Company, Independence Power & Light and Kansas City Power & Light. More information and a list of Missouri retail locations offering the in-store rebate is available on the Energy Center’s Web site at www.dnr.mo.gov/energy/changealight.htm. More information on the program is also available by visiting the Web site of the Midwest Energy Efficiency Alliance at www.mwalliance.org/cal2007.

For news releases on the Web, visit www.dnr.mo.gov/newsrel. For a complete listing of the department's upcoming meetings, hearings and events, visit the department's online calendar at www.dnr.mo.gov/calendar/search.do.

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