Omahans asked to use environmentally friendly light bulbs

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.omaha.com/index.php?u_page=1219&u_sid=2356242

Published Thursday | March 29, 2007
Omahans asked to use environmentally friendly light bulbs
BY NANCY GAARDER
WORLD-HERALD STAFF WRITER


Omaha hopes to reduce its contribution to global warming gases, and on Thursday the first citywide effort to do so was launched.

The Omaha Energy Challenge asks families to replace one conventional light bulb for each family member with a compact fluorescent light bulb. The bulbs can last eight years or more and use about 25 percent to 30 percent of the energy of conventional light bulbs.

To make it easier to do so, two stores will offer discounts to residents and local agencies will give bulbs away to the low income and elderly.

This initiative is part of a larger effort to reduce energy use - and global warming gases - in Omaha.

Buildings - homes and businesses - account for about 80 percent of the global warming gases emitted in Omaha, according to an emissions inventory conducted by the city's Air Quality Division.

The first ever inventory in Omaha found that homes account for 29 percent, commercial buildings 27 percent and industrial buildings 22 percent. Buses, trucks and cars account for about 21 percent.

Mayor Mike Fahey noted that it was a year ago that he enrolled the city in the Cool Cities Initiative and Mayor's Climate Protection Agreement, which commit cities to reducing global warming gases. Lincoln and Bellevue are among the 420 other cities participating.

The city's goal is to reduce emissions by 7 percent by 2012.

Lisa Renstrom, national president of the Sierra Club, said Omaha and the other cities have moved ahead of national policy on climate change.

Cammy Watkins, head of the local chapter of the Sierra Club, said 4,000 light bulbs will be given to low-income residents on a first-come, first-serve basis beginning April 9.

Gary Gates, president of the Omaha Public Power District, said the utility will provide $5,000 to help pay for the bulbs being given away.

Gates encouraged local businesses to contact OPPD about having an audit and energy upgrade. Businesses are averaging savings of about 30 percent through the OPPD program.

The city is taking other steps to reduce its energy use:

• Working with OPPD to audit and reduce energy use in the City-County Building.

• Replacing burned-out conventional traffic lights with LED bulbs, which cut energy use by about 80 percent. The LED bulbs also last years longer, which means city workers spend less time and take fewer risks replacing them.

• Increasing tree plantings along streets with few trees.

[Captain Angry]

1. I can see where this is going...

I'll get a call shortly from my dad in Omaha.

We switched to all CF bulbs over the last year after talking to you, and we missed out on the discount. We should have waited!