January 25, 2008—The sales of Energy Star-qualified compact fluorescent lights (CFLs) nearly doubled last year, according to the estimates of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). In 2007, 290 million CFLs were sold, and the energy-saving bulbs now account for about 20% of the light bulb market in the United States. Energy Star-qualified CFLs use approximately 75% less energy and last up to 10 times longer than traditional incandescent bulbs.
The sale of CFLs has been on the rise since 2006, when their market share jumped from 5% to almost 11%.
DOE and EPA have worked to promote the sales of CFLs throughout 2007 with their “Change a Light, Change the World” campaign, which encourages people across the United States to sign a pledge to change at least one bulb in their house to an Energy Star-qualified CFL. The campaign has gathered over 1 million pledges so far.
For more information, see the Energy Star Web site.
