Request FREE CFL Bulbs (Select States Only)
(Photo Credit: Life of Riley!)
Did you know that one of the easiest ways to lower your energy bill is by replacing your standard bulbs with compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs). They use 75 % less energy and last 10 times longer than incandescent bulbs! Back in July of 2011, I posted about the fact that if you’re a Duke Energy customer then you may be able to request a FREE box of CFLs by heading on over here, entering your account number, and seeing if you qualify.
Keep in mind that to be eligible for this offer from Duke Energy you must:
* Be a Duke Energy residential customer with an active account
* Have electric service provided by Duke Energy
* Have not received the maximum number of bulbs from Duke Energy allowed per household
* Live in a state where the Duke Energy save-a-watt energy efficiency model has been approved
* Not be on the Greenwood, SC residential rate schedule
In addition to the offer above, Ohio residential customers of The Illuminating Company, Ohio Edison and Toledo Edison are now eligible to receive a FREE energy conservation kit. The kit includes nine compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs), a smart strip/surge protector, a furnace filter whistle, and two LED night lights! Wow!
Or, if you reside in one of these states (Ohio, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Maryland, or New Jersey), head over here and click on your state to see if you qualify for any special offers. Keep in mind that this special CFL bulb offer may not be listed so you will want to contact your First Energy company directly by phone to see if you might qualify.
Please also note that many energy companies are offering up rebates on your CFL purchases so be sure to check their web-sites for more information.
Have any of you applied for these free bulbs from your energy company? Let us know!
(Thanks, Shortcut Saver!)
Thanks !
In Maryland…no free ones:(
You can call 1-800-943-7585 for a list of participating states. Not in FLA at this time. We just changed over to Duke…so, this offer may be in our future. Thanks for the heads up.
I requested mine from our electric company Ohio Edison months ago,and have never recieved it.
Yep! I’m in NC and just moved to a new house so I was eligible to request. I had previously requested for the apartment I was living in several years ago and got them then too.
I live in NC and got these last year.
This is good that you aren’t paying for them because my hubby and I spent tons of money on about 15 of them four years ago and half of them died in 1-2 years. Major rip off. Only use them in rooms where you keep the light in for an extended period of time, like the living room, not the bathroom for example. Use the savings (since they are free) to get LEDs everywhere else. They are much better.
We are gradually replacing incandescent with leds. Will not use cfls as they contain mercury and I have a concern with having children in the house if they would break.
Yup that too. I agree. We dont have kids but I had two break and I did not like the clean up/disposal problem. We have a few left in the house but are doing the same. LEDs are expensive though. We were able to get the recessed lighting LED’s (sort of like floodlight bulbs) for $8 each at costco which was a steal. Went back less than one week later to get more and 3 palates were sold…. gone. But very, very happy with the LEDs.
To be honest, you would have to break 125 CFL’s to equal the amount of mercury in one old school thermometer. 500 to equal the mercury in most household thermostats. The mercury thing in CFL’s is a bit overblown, especially when considering the amount in most of the tuna fish sold today.
However, using CFL’s reduces airborne mercury emissions by reducing the amount of coal used in power plants….at a savings of up to 50%.
To each their own, but make sure you do your research before writing off the technology completely.
Ding Ding Ding, you are correct. The biggest single problem with CFL’s is their life. I spent time installing some into our house just to see what difference it would make and with their “extreme long life” how can you go wrong. First problem is they don’t last. We have bulbs outside our house that have been there since we built the house 12 years ago, and then we have 2 CFL’s outside. I have already replaced both of those and 1 of the fixtures twice. So they not only don’t last longer they have a substantial shorter life. So since mid 08, 3 bulbs outside have been replaced that are CFL’s. Bathroom one’s inside the house, same issues, but even more. We are now switching over to LED’s and so far not one has failed. I will never put one more dime into CFL’s. IMO they are worse for the environment then normal bulbs, and I didn’t even do it for the environment.
My children cannot detoxify (high mercury, lead, arsenic, and tin). I cannot take the chance even if it is a small amount. Even if they did not have the detoxify problems I still don’t think I would take the chance.
*where you keep the light on, not in
Not in Florida yet 🙁
In Michigan, almost every utility offers a similar program. Just go to their website and look for headings like “ways to save” or “save money.” Sometimes you can get free energy audits of your home, free thermostats, and rebates if you upgrade to energy star appliances. Also, I know DTE and most other municipalities/co ops will recycle old refrigerators…they take away the energy hog AND give you a rebate check. Awesome if you want to get rid of an old fridge hanging out in the garage.
I’ve been trying to find a good old fashioned 100w light bulb and it’s near to impossible! The new ones just don’t give off enough light or there’s a delay in it lighting up.
Have you tried the dollar general stores??
Incandescents are being phased out so if you like them and find some–stock up!
I have DUKE energy hate the rate increase they want to do! But I may have to get some light blubs it’ll make the rate increase easier on my wallet 😉
If Duke would stop giving away bulbs; paying their execs in the millions; sending stupid, meaningless usage comparisons with my neighbors (how much did the data analysis and fancy printing cost?); and spending lots of money on tv ads to convince us they are a great company and to prevent the tv stations from negative comments on the rate increase (this should be a conflict of interest), maybe they wouldn’t need the rate increase. Feel free to use these issues to complain to the Public Service Commission. I plan to.
Thanks.
Menards had the 4pk for .99 I believe they are on sale until the 7th. Our store had a limit of 4 per person. I really have found they last just the same as incandescent lights. I hate that they are not as bright and they tend to make my eyes hurt as well but I guess I have to get used to that or shell out the money for LEDs. Our Costco had the LED flood lights too but they certainly were not $8 that would be an awesome find!
Hey if any wants a spreadsheet I made to figure out your savings on CFL’s or LED’s you can email me and I will send it to you. It’s got notes on how to use it and is really easy, it can help you predict potential savings of switching out lights.
Email ipon70@hotmail.com
https://shop.niagaraconservation.com/nicorgas/
Here are some energy-saving freebies for IL!
Not Duke Energy in Indiana though… 🙁