Westchester County Department of Environmental Facilities

We know we can’t stop greenhouse gases on our own. But if everyone takes steps to reduce their impacts, small changes can add up. One step in this direction is to replace old-fashioned incandescent bulbs with more energy-efficient bulbs, such as compact fluorescent lights (CFLs).

Their benefits include:

• using 75 percent less energy than standard incandescent bulbs
• lasting up to 10 times longer than incandescent bulbs
• helping to save $30 or more in energy costs over each bulb’s lifetime

CFLs are cost-effective. Although initially more expensive, CFLs are a smart purchase because they save you money in the long run. A single 15-watt CFL used in place of a 60-watt incandescent will reduce your electric bill by $45 over its lifetime.

CFLs are also energy-efficient. Replacing just 1 light bulb in your home with a CFL prevents about 150 pounds of carbon dioxide from being emitted into the atmosphere each year. That is equivalent to not driving your car for 2 weeks!

Saving energy reduces pollution. CFLs emit the same amount of light as regular incandescent bulbs but use 75 percent less electricity. If every household in Westchester replaced just 1 bulb, we’d reduce pollution by more than 400 million pounds over the lifetime of the bulb.

Join us in thinking globally and acting locally by making the switch to compact fluorescent light bulbs.

Where can I buy CFLs?
Search for local retailers, read up on the economic and environmental benefits of CFLs and learn more about energy-saving light bulbs using the links below:

• Energy Star Web site

Where can I dispose fluorescent bulbs safely?
Fluorescent lighting contains mercury, so it should not be disposed with the household trash. Residentially-generated tube and compact fluorescent bulbs (CFLs) are accepted at the Household Material Recovery Facility. You can also refer to our Special Household Waste page for guidelines on other household items that require special handling.

The following retail locations accept only compact fluorescent bulbs (CFLs) - not tube-style bulbs - and also rechargeable batteries. Contact local stores for details.