PRESS RELEASE
Southern Maryland Electric Cooperative (SMECO) wants its customer-members to save on energy bills by using less energy. To help customers succeed, SMECO gave out almost 700 compact fluorescent light (CFL) bulbs at all of its office lobbies on November 16. The light bulb giveaway is part of a statewide utility effort to promote the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Change a Light, Change the World campaign.
Customers who receive a CFL are asked to sign the ENERGY STAR pledge, which states, “I pledge to do my part to save energy and help reduce risks of global climate change by replacing at least one light in my home with an ENERGY STAR qualified one.” The 676 customer-members who received bulbs on November 16 have pledged to replace more than 3,100 incandescent lights with CFLs in their homes. According to the EPA Web site, ENERGY STAR qualified CFLs use about 75 percent less energy than standard incandescent light bulbs.
SMECO, in conjunction with Southern Maryland Tri-County Community Action Committee (SMTCCAC), recently held an Energy Assistance Fair. SMECO opened its doors to low-income customers who met with SMTCCAC representatives to complete their applications for Maryland’s energy assistance programs. The fair gave local residents the opportunity to bring their paperwork and submit their applications in a convenient setting, with personnel to help process applications. SMECO gave customers who attended the Energy Assistance Fair a free CFL as part of the Change a Light, Change the World campaign.
SMECO will also give out CFL bulbs at its four offices on Friday, November 30, 2007. For more information about saving energy or to take the Change a Light, Change the World pledge, go to www.energystar.gov or go to www.smeco.coop and click on the link to the ENERGY STAR Web site.
SMECO customer-member Patty Duvall (left) received a free compact fluorescent light bulb from Denise Chalmers, Generalist--Customer and Member Services, at the Co-op's Hughesville headquarters on November 16.