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City of Seattle
Gregory J. Nickels, Mayor
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NEWS ADVISORY
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| SUBJECT: Bright Idea Helps Low-income Residents & the Climate
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
11/14/2007 10:40:00 AM |
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
Alex Fryer (206) 684-8358
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Bright Idea Helps Low-income Residents & the Climate
City of Seattle and Seattle Housing Authority launch new lighting program
SEATTLE - Mayor Greg Nickels today launched a new program with the Seattle Housing Authority (SHA) to install 40,000 energy-efficient light bulbs in all the agency’s homes - a step that will help residents save money while cutting global warming pollution.
“Changing one light bulb won’t save the world from global warming, but changing 40,000 of them is a good start,” Nickels said. “This program really is a bright idea - not only do these bulbs help reduce climate pollution, but they will help make residents’ electric bills a little lighter in the process.”
The 12-month program is part of Seattle Climate Action Now, an effort to get everyone in the city taking simple steps to reduce global warming pollution at home, at work and on the road.
In all, more than 6,000 SHA units will benefit from a partnership with Seattle City Light and the Seattle Office of Housing to install compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFL). Each home will receive an average of six bulbs, or more depending on the size of the home.
Nickels kicked off the campaign at SHA’s Yesler Terrace. Changing to more energy-efficient light will save an estimated $234 per household and reduce energy use by 544 watts over the 10,000-hour life of the bulb. The overall savings is as much as $740,000 and will avoid 2.8 million pounds of carbon emissions - the equivalent of taking 10,000 cars off the road.
SHA Executive Director Tom Tierney welcomed the energy-saving partnership with the city of Seattle. “Not only will this help our residents save on their utility bills, it will also allow them to replace their conventional light bulbs without having to make a significant cash outlay.”
Nickels and Tierney joined Yesler Terrace resident Dominic Bui, who will be the first of the 515 Yesler Terrace residents to receive the CFLs.
All Seattle City Light customers can participate in the CFL program by taking advantage of the discount program available at several Seattle-area retail outlets. To learn more, visit www.seattle.gov/twistandsave.
Visit the mayor’s Web site at www.seattle.gov/mayor. Get the mayor’s inside view on efforts to promote transportation, public safety, economic opportunity and healthy communities by signing up for The Nickels Newsletter at www.seattle.gov/mayor/newsletter_signup.htm.
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Office of the Mayor
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