Crown corporation program will distribute 200,000 CFL bulbs
Bruce Johnstone, Saskatchewan News Network; Regina Leader-Post
Published: Wednesday, July 23, 2008

REGINA -- If one energy-efficient, greenhouse-gas emissions reducing compact fluorescent light (CFL) bulb can make a difference, imagine what 200,000 could do.

"(It's) about 9,300 tonnes of GHG emissions reductions, which is equivalent to taking 2,400 cars off the road," said Garry Tollefson, supervisor of business development for SaskPower.

"Each (CFL) is at least 66 per cent more efficient than a standard bulb," added Rebecca Fiissel, residential lighting program leader for SaskPower. "So the message is simple actions matter."
Rebecca Fiissel, a residential lighting program leader with SaskPower, and supervisor of business development Garry Tollefson hope Saskatchewan households will take a shine to compact fluorescent lightbulbsView Larger Image View Larger Image
Rebecca Fiissel, a residential lighting program leader with SaskPower, and supervisor of business development Garry Tollefson hope Saskatchewan households will take a shine to compact fluorescent lightbulbs.

That's the thinking behind Project Porchlight, a national campaign to promote the benefits of switching from energy-gobbling, heat-generating incandescent lightbulbs to CFLs.

Starting in September, SaskPower, through Project Porchlight, will be distributing CFL bulbs free of charge to 200,000 households in Saskatchewan -- nearly half of the homes in the province -- with the project wrapping up by the end of October.

Project Porchlight is operated by One Change, a non-profit organization based in Ottawa that promotes environmental sustainability.

"They've done this (CFL giveaway program) in Alberta, Yukon, Ontario, Vermont and now Saskatchewan," Tollefson said.

"They've distributed over one million (CFL) bulbs to date using volunteers in communities," added Fiissel.

The program will cost SaskPower $1.4 million, including $500,000 for the CFL bulbs. One Change will hire about 20 local co-ordinators in Regina, Saskatoon and Prince Albert, who will oversee hundreds of volunteers distributing the bulbs in 40 to 50 communities this fall.

"We've hired (Change One) to do all this work for us," Tollefson said. "They've worked with Scouts, sports groups, seniors groups and everything in between."

While the project will cost SaskPower $1.4 million, it will encourage customers to become more energy efficient and help reduce electricity demand, Tollefson added.

"This is a very cost-effective way of addressing the load-growth issue."

Since 200,000 households represents nearly half of SaskPower's customer base, a similar project will be launched again in spring.

"If things go well this fall, we'll go on and do the second half (of the program) this spring."

The 23-watt bulbs are the latest generation of CFLs and are significantly improved from earlier versions.

"It's technically a 100-watt replacement, but you can use it in a 60-watt light fixture," Tollefson said. "You're using less power, but getting more light."

Information on handling and disposing of CFL bulbs, which contain a small amount of mercury, will be provided along with the bulbs.

"Manufacturers are diligently working to reduce the mercury in the lights," Tollefson said, adding the amount of mercury in a typical CFL is "about the size of a period on a piece of paper."

For more information on Project Porchlight or to volunteer, visit projectporchlight.com or toll-free at 1-866-585-6359, or visit saskpower.com