Bulbs that save energy get cheaper
By Greg Wiles
Advertiser Staff Writer
Hawaiian Electric Co. and General Electric Co. are giving out dollar-off coupons for bulb-shaped fluorescent lights in an effort to get more people using the energy-saving devices.
The coupons entitle customers to $1 off the purchase of two GE compact fluorescent light bulbs at retailers that include Longs Drugs, Times Super Market, Foodland Super Market, City Mill, Daiei and 7-Eleven stores. The $50,000 campaign will run through the end of the year.
Hawaiian Electric said getting O'ahu residents to switch from traditional incandescent bulbs to 100,000 spiral, compact fluorescents will save customers almost $1 million over the life of the bulbs. It will also save the burning of about 11,000 barrels oil to generate the electricity.
"The bulbs in themselves are cheaper than using ordinary incandescent bulbs," said Ryan Ichinose, a sales representative for The Light Bulb Source Hawai'i store on Ward Avenue. "So if they're giving $1 off, that's a bonus."
Ichinose said compact fluorescent bulbs save owners money in several ways, including lasting about 6 times longer than ordinary bulbs and using less electricity to produce the same amount of light. Also, he said, the bulbs don't heat up rooms as much as incandescent ones do.
The downside to the bulbs is that they cost more initially and aren't available for three-way lamps or dimmer switches, Ichinose said.
A study found consumers save about $50 over the life of a 23-watt compact fluorescent light compared to a 100-watt incandescent bulb that produces the same amount of light, said Hawaiian Electric spokesman Peter Rosegg.
The average Hawaiian Electric customer's bill has risen about 16 percent in the past year because as fuel costs have increased.
"We recognize the financial impact, and we're trying to help people deal with it," Rosegg said.
City Mill will charge $4.98 per bulb when it starts stocking the GE lights later this week, electrical buyer Conrad Kampp said. The $1 off will amount to about a 10 percent discount or 50 cents on each bulb in a package of two.
