BERKELEY, California, October 5, 2007 (ENS) - Pacific Gas & Electric is giving away one million compact fluorescent light bulbs, CFLs, during the month of October to help its central and northern California customers become more energy efficient.

PG&E flipped the switch on the largest, one-month utility CFL promotion of its kind by giving away 7,500 bulbs during the national Change a Light Day celebration in Berkeley on October 4.

"Energy efficiency is a quick and cost-effective way for our customers to save money, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and combat global climate change," said Brad Whitcomb, vice president of customer products and services for PG&E. "We're thrilled to continue our partnership with the communities we serve as we begin this grassroots effort to promote energy efficiency."

PG&E's one million CFL giveaway during National Energy Awareness Month could potentially generate a collective savings of more than 400,000 megawatt hours and

prevent the emission of more than 200,000 tons of greenhouse gases not emitted over the lifetime of the CFL.

This is the equivalent of powering almost 60,000 homes in northern California for a year, or removing 31,000 cars from the road for a year, or planting 60,000 acres of trees, the utility said.

PG&E has asked more than 1,000 PG&E employee volunteers to help distribute CFLs at over 300 events across northern and central California.

The company is also partnering with local community groups and the Sierra Club to broaden its reach.

CFL giveaway activities include Australia's National Energy Awareness Month launch, featuring the ENERGY STAR Change a Light Bus, at the Marina Safeway store in San Francisco, and Lights Out San Francisco on October 20.

"We are thrilled that ENERGY STAR partner PG&E stepped forward to host the national bus tour to help us encourage as many people in California to start saving energy today, starting by changing to energy-efficient lighting," said Wendy Reed, campaign manager for Energy Star's Change a Light, Change the World campaign manager.

The Energy Star Change a Light, Change the World campaign is intended to encourage Americans to change the world, one light, one step, at a time by taking an on-line pledge to replace an incandescent bulb or fixture in their homes with one that has earned the Energy Star label.

"Each American needs to see that they are part of the solution to fight global warming," said Reed, "and we hope this tour will help individuals understand the connection between personal energy use and our climate."

Copyright Environment News Service (ENS) 2007. All rights reserved.