Press Release
“Change A Light” to save energy and money with energy-efficient bulbs
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa – October 1, 2009 – Many Iowans want to save energy and protect the environment, but may not know where to begin. As the daylight hours become shorter this fall and more lights turn on across the state, there is a simple way to save energy, and all it involves is a twist of the wrist. By replacing one light bulb with an ENERGY STAR® qualified compact fluorescent light bulb (CFL), homeowners can save $30 in energy costs over the bulb’s life.
Beginning October 1, Interstate Power and Light Co. (IPL), an Alliant Energy company, and MidAmerican Energy Company are helping Iowa residential electric customers make the simple switch to energy-efficient lighting by offering an instant cash-back reward on ENERGY STAR qualified CFL purchases of 12 bulbs or less. With the instant rewards, the bulbs will sell for as little as 99 cents at participating stores, including Ace Hardware, Dollar Tree, Family Dollar, Fareway Stores, Home Depot, Hy-Vee, Menards, Sam’s Club, Theisens, True Value Hardware and WalMart, among others.
This instant cash-back reward is being held in conjunction with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) national campaign, Change the World, Start with ENERGY STAR. This campaign encourages Americans to join the fight against global warming by making energy-efficient changes. Iowans can take the ENERGY STAR Pledge at energystar.gov/changealight.
“There are many simple changes customers can make everyday to save energy, and changing light bulbs to CFLs takes just a few minutes of time, while paying off on electric bills,” says Linda Mattes, Director of Energy Efficiency & Renewables at Alliant Energy.
CFLs save money by using 75 percent less energy and last up to 10 times longer than their old-fashioned counterparts. By replacing light bulbs in the five most frequently used light fixtures with ENERGY STAR qualified CFLs, a home will save about $65 a year in energy costs. Plus, today’s CFLs provide bright, warm light and require replacement far less often, saving consumers and businesses both time and money. With the wide variety of CFL shapes, sizes and styles available, energy-efficient lighting can be used throughout the home all year long.
“Energy efficiency is important because it saves consumers and businesses money and helps protect the environment,” said Diane Munns, MidAmerican’s vice president, regulatory regulations and energy efficiency.
For more information on ENERGY STAR qualified CFLs or where to purchase them at a discounted price, call (800) 339-6856 or visit www.iowachangealight.com.
About Alliant Energy
Alliant Energy is an energy-services provider with subsidiaries serving approximately 1 million electric and over 400,000 natural gas customers. Providing its customers in the Midwest with regulated electric and natural gas service is the company’s primary focus. Interstate Power and Light, the company's Iowa utility subsidiary, serves approximately 530,000 electric and 235,000 natural gas customers. Alliant Energy, headquartered in Madison, Wis., is a Fortune 1000 company traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol LNT. For more information, visit the company’s Web site at www.alliantenergy.com.
About MidAmerican Energy Company
MidAmerican Energy Company, Iowa’s largest energy company, provides electric service to 723,000 customers and natural gas service to 704,000 customers in Iowa, Illinois, Nebraska and South Dakota. It is headquartered in Des Moines, Iowa. Information about MidAmerican is available on the Internet at http://www.midamericanenergy.com.
About ENERGY STAR
ENERGY STAR was introduced by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in 1992 as a voluntary, market-based partnership to reduce air pollution through increased energy efficiency. Today, with assistance from the U.S. Department of Energy, the ENERGY STAR program offers businesses and consumers energy-efficient solutions to save energy and money, and help fight global climate change. More than 8,000 organizations have become ENERGY STAR partners and are committed to improving the energy efficiency of products, homes and businesses. For more information about ENERGY STAR, visit www.energystar.gov or call toll-free 1-888-STAR-YES (1-888-782-7937)
Media Contacts:
Scott Drzycimski (Alliant Energy) 319-786-7550
Ann Thelen (MidAmerican Energy Company) 515-281-2785