Wisconsin “Change Five Challenge” Results in Significant Savings

February 2005

Wisconsin residents purchased more than 17,500 ENERGY STAR® qualified compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) at the "Change Five Challenge," a statewide event being held in coordination with the larger "Change a Light, Change Wisconsin" promotion. The sales were hosted in Madison, Milwaukee, and Green Bay by the mayors of those cities, and in other parts of the state, including Superior and Wisconsin Rapids.

People are encouraged to switch out the five most used bulbs in their homes with ENERGY STAR qualified CFLs. This quick and easy solution can save homeowners more than $60 per year on their utility bills. CFLs should be placed in the most frequently used light fixtures — in the living room, dining room, kitchen, master bedroom, and master bathroom.

The bulbs sold at the event will reduce Wisconsin's annual energy consumption by more than a million kilowatt-hours — enough energy to light 115 homes for one year and reduce utility costs by more than $241,000. They will prevent 580 tons of coal from being burned and more than 975,000 pounds of carbon dioxide from entering the atmosphere.