OFFICE OF SUSTAINABILITY
Diana Giraldo
239-321-7926

Introduction
Tips to Save on Home Energy Costs
CFLs and Mercury
Why is the EPA Promoting Using CFLs?
Recycling and Disposing of CFLs
Broken CFLs
Helpful Third Party Links

As power plants burn fossil fuels to make electricity, they release greenhouse gases. By using less energy at home, at work, and in the community, you can reduce these emissions and fight global warming.  Using less energy will lower your utility bills each month.
Energy usage is influenced by factors such as weather, lifestyle, appliances, and maintenance of the building.

Weather: Hot weather: Air conditioners run longer, cooling a building can account for half or more of an electric bill. Cold weather: Heating costs two to three times as much as cooling, the colder the weather, the longer the heater will run.

Lifestyle: Setting the thermostat too low during summer or too high during winter will be reflected in high energy consumption=higher electric bills. Homes with pools or spas can have high energy consumption due to operating water circulation pumps. Having additional appliances could also cause high energy bills, specially freezers or fridges in unconditioned garages.

Appliances: The average home spends about $2,200 on energy bills every year. Appliances that have earned the ENERGY STAR label can help you save money.

TIPS TO SAVE ENERGY & MONEY

• To cool your home: Set the thermostat at 78° or warmer with the thermostat switch on “auto”. For additional savings, raise your thermostat at 82° or warmer while away from home. Ensure that doors and windows are closed.
• To heat your home: Set the thermostat at 68° or cooler with the thermostat switch on “auto”. To save even more, lower the thermostat to 65° or cooler at bedtime or while away from home. Ensure that doors and windows are closed.
• Install a programable thermostat: The programable feature allows automatic temperature adjustments that maximize energy savings.
• Clean or replace the A/C filter every month: This will trim cooling costs and help the unit operate more efficiently. When the filter is dirty, the A/C unit does not run properly and this will increase the energy use and decrease the life of the unit.
• Turn off ceiling fans: If a room is not being occupied just turn the fan off. A fan that runs constantly can cost up to $7 dollars a month depending on its size and age.
• Clean the lint filter in the dryer: ensure the filter is clean before every load, it will dry the clothes faster and save you money.
• Purchase dryers with auto-sensor fuction: The moisture sensor on these dryers help  conserve energy by not overdrying clothes.
• Air dry clothes: This saves you the most money, it also extends the life of your clothes.
• Adjust the water level on the clothes washer: Have the right amount of water for the load being washed, specially when using hot water. Always use a cold rinse.
• Replace light bulbs: Replace incandescent bulbs with Compact Fluorescent Light (CFL) bulbs. They use about one-quarter of the energy to produce the same amount of light, last up to 10 times longer and produce about 75 percent less heat (which reduces cooling costs). See  important information about  facts, recycling and disposing of CFL light bulbs at the  bottom on this page
• Use LED light or CFL light strings for festive occasions: Many options are available even with solar features, this could save you money during the holiday season.  
• A/C ducts: A/C ducts are used to distribute conditioned air throughout houses with forced-air heating and cooling systems. In typical houses, about 20% of the air that moves through the duct system is lost due to leaks, holes and poorly connected ducts. The result is an inefficient HVAC system, high utility bills, and difficulty keeping the house comfortable, no matter how the thermostat is set. Look for holes, tears, and other signs of leaking ducts and seal them using mastic compound. Insulate all the ducts you can access (such as those in the attic, crawlspace or garage).
• Maintain the A/C unit: Just as a tune-up for a car can improve the gas mileage, a yearly tune-up of the heating and cooling system can improve efficiency and comfort.
• Doors & windows: Caulk and weather-strip around windows and doorframes that leak air.
• All penetrations: Cover and seal all penetration surroundings that lead from plumbing, ductwork, or electrical runs with caulk. Improving the home’s “envelope” or “shell” is one of the most important steps to maximize the home's energy efficiency and reduce energy bills. In the bathroom, sealing around drafty windows, baseboards, and floors can help avoid common mold and moisture problems.
• Attic: The attic is one of the places where often the biggest air leaks are found, which can increase  energy bills and make the house uncomfortably hot in summer and cold in winter. Weather-strip and insulate the attic door to improve the home's comfort and overall energy performance.
• Electrical Outlets and switches: Seal holes around outlets and switches with caulk and place inexpensive foam gaskets behind the cover plate. Use electic outlet plugs to help reduce air infiltration from the wall cavity into living spaces (for unused electric outlets).
• Outlets: Unplug all battery chargers or power adapters when not in use.
• Water Heater: Set the water heater thermostat to 120 F.

COMPACT FLUORESCENT LIGHT BULBS (CFLs) & MERCURY

Mercury is an essential element in the operation of fluorescent lighting; it allows the bulbs to be an efficient light source. Because CFLs contain trace amounts of mercury, it is important to educate yourself on proper use, recycling and disposal of these products.

The Facts about CFLs and Mercury

Because CFLs use less electricity than traditional light bulbs, they reduce demand for electricity; that reduction means less mercury is emitted from power plants. CFLs contain a very small amount of mercury — an average of 4 milligrams in each bulb. No mercury is released when the bulbs are intact or in use.

Why the EPA, DOE and others are promoting the use of CFLs

CFLs use significantly less energy than traditional light bulbs (75% less). If every home in America replaced just one incandescent light bulb with an ENERGY STAR qualified CFL, we would save enough energy to light more than 3 million homes and prevent greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to that of 800,000 cars. And even though CFLs contain a small amount of mercury that could ultimately end up in the environment, that amount is significantly less than the amount of mercury avoided as a result of the energy savings.

Recycling and Disposing of CFLs

Like any other product containing potentially hazardous materials that you use in your home, CFLs come with some special instructions.

Cleanup and Disposal Guidelines
Environmental protection Agency (EPA)
For Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs (CFLs)

What precautions should I take when using CFLs in my home?

CFLs are made of glass and can break if dropped or roughly handled. Be careful when removing the bulb from its packaging, installing it, or replacing it. Always screw and unscrew the light bulb by its base (not the glass), and never forcefully twist the CFL into a light socket. If a CFL breaks in your home, follow the clean-up recommendations below. Used CFLs should be disposed of properly (see below).

What should I do with a CFL when it burns out?

EPA recommends that consumers take advantage of available local recycling options for compact fluorescent light bulbs. EPA is working with CFL manufacturers and major U.S. retailers to expand recycling and disposal options. Consumers can contact their local municipal solid waste agency directly, or go to www.epa.gov/bulbrecycling or www.earth911.org to identify local recycling options.

If your state or local environmental regulatory agency permits you to put used or broken CFLs in the garbage, seal the bulb in two plastic bags and put it into the outside trash, or other protected outside location, for the next normal trash collection. Never send a fluorescent light bulb or any other mercury-containing product to an incinerator.

If your ENERGY STAR qualified CFL product burns out before it should, look at the CFL base to find the manufacturer’s name. Visit the manufacturer’s web site to find the customer service contact information to inquire about a refund or replacement. Manufacturers producing ENERGY STAR qualified CFLs are required to offer at least a two-year limited warranty (covering manufacturer defects) for CFLs used at home. In the future, save your receipts to document the date of purchase.

How should I clean up a broken fluorescent bulb?

Because CFLs contain a small amount of mercury, EPA recommends the following clean-up and disposal guidelines:

1. Before Clean-up: Air Out the Room
   1. Have people and pets leave the room, and don't let anyone walk through the breakage area on their way out.
   2. Open a window and leave the room for 15 minutes or more.
   3. Shut off the central forced-air heating/air conditioning system, if you have one.
2. Clean-Up Steps for Hard Surfaces
   1. Carefully scoop up glass fragments and powder using stiff paper or cardboard and place them in a glass jar with metal lid (such as a canning jar) or in a sealed plastic bag.
   2. Use sticky tape, such as duct tape, to pick up any remaining small glass pieces and powder.
   3. Wipe the area clean with damp paper towels or disposable wet wipes. Place towels in the glass jar or plastic bag.
   4. Do not use a vacuum or broom to clean up the broken bulb on hard surfaces.
3. Clean-up Steps for Carpeting or Rug:
   1. Carefully pick up glass fragments and place them in a glass jar with metal lid (such as a canning jar) or in a sealed plastic bag.
   2. Use sticky tape, such as duct tape, to pick up any remaining small glass fragments and powder.
   3. If vacuuming is needed after all visible materials are removed, vacuum the area where the bulb was broken.
   4. Remove the vacuum bag (or empty and wipe the canister), and put the bag or vacuum debris in a sealed plastic bag.
4. Clean-up Steps for Clothing, Bedding, etc.:
   1. If clothing or bedding materials come in direct contact with broken glass or mercury-containing powder from inside the bulb that may stick to the fabric, the clothing or bedding should be thrown away. Do not wash such clothing or bedding because mercury fragments in the clothing may contaminate the machine and/or pollute sewage.
   2. You can, however, wash clothing or other materials that have been exposed to the mercury vapor from a broken CFL, such as the clothing you are wearing when you cleaned up the broken CFL, as long as that clothing has not come into direct contact with the materials from the broken bulb.
   3. If shoes come into direct contact with broken glass or mercury-containing powder from the bulb, wipe them off with damp paper towels or disposable wet wipes. Place the towels or wipes in a glass jar or plastic bag for disposal.
5. Disposal of Clean-up Materials
   1. Immediately place all clean-up materials outdoors in a trash container or protected area for the next normal trash pickup.
   2. Wash your hands after disposing of the jars or plastic bags containing clean-up materials.
   3. Check with your local or state government about disposal requirements in your specific area. Some states do not allow such trash disposal. Instead, they require that broken and unbroken mercury-containing bulbs be taken to a local recycling center.
6. Future Cleaning of Carpeting or Rug: Air Out the Room During and After Vacuuming
   1. The next several times you vacuum, shut off the central forced-air heating/air conditioning system and open a window before vacuuming.
   2. Keep the central heating/air conditioning system shut off and the window open for at least 15 minutes after vacuuming is completed.

For more information about compact fluorescent bulbs, visit www.energystar.gov/cfls
For more information about compact fluorescent bulbs and mercury, visit www.energystar.gov/mercury
 

For more information regarding energy conservation visit

www.fpl.com
www.energystar.gov
 

Or contact

The City of Fort Myers
Sustainability Office
321-7926

OFFICE OF SUSTAINABILITY
Diana Giraldo
239-321-7926

Introduction
Tips to Save on Home Energy Costs
CFLs and Mercury
Why is the EPA Promoting Using CFLs?
Recycling and Disposing of CFLs
Broken CFLs
Helpful Third Party Links

As power plants burn fossil fuels to make electricity, they release greenhouse gases. By using less energy at home, at work, and in the community, you can reduce these emissions and fight global warming.  Using less energy will lower your utility bills each month.
Energy usage is influenced by factors such as weather, lifestyle, appliances, and maintenance of the building.

Weather: Hot weather: Air conditioners run longer, cooling a building can account for half or more of an electric bill. Cold weather: Heating costs two to three times as much as cooling, the colder the weather, the longer the heater will run.

Lifestyle: Setting the thermostat too low during summer or too high during winter will be reflected in high energy consumption=higher electric bills. Homes with pools or spas can have high energy consumption due to operating water circulation pumps. Having additional appliances could also cause high energy bills, specially freezers or fridges in unconditioned garages.

Appliances: The average home spends about $2,200 on energy bills every year. Appliances that have earned the ENERGY STAR label can help you save money.

TIPS TO SAVE ENERGY & MONEY

• To cool your home: Set the thermostat at 78° or warmer with the thermostat switch on “auto”. For additional savings, raise your thermostat at 82° or warmer while away from home. Ensure that doors and windows are closed.
• To heat your home: Set the thermostat at 68° or cooler with the thermostat switch on “auto”. To save even more, lower the thermostat to 65° or cooler at bedtime or while away from home. Ensure that doors and windows are closed.
• Install a programable thermostat: The programable feature allows automatic temperature adjustments that maximize energy savings.
• Clean or replace the A/C filter every month: This will trim cooling costs and help the unit operate more efficiently. When the filter is dirty, the A/C unit does not run properly and this will increase the energy use and decrease the life of the unit.
• Turn off ceiling fans: If a room is not being occupied just turn the fan off. A fan that runs constantly can cost up to $7 dollars a month depending on its size and age.
• Clean the lint filter in the dryer: ensure the filter is clean before every load, it will dry the clothes faster and save you money.
• Purchase dryers with auto-sensor fuction: The moisture sensor on these dryers help  conserve energy by not overdrying clothes.
• Air dry clothes: This saves you the most money, it also extends the life of your clothes.
• Adjust the water level on the clothes washer: Have the right amount of water for the load being washed, specially when using hot water. Always use a cold rinse.
• Replace light bulbs: Replace incandescent bulbs with Compact Fluorescent Light (CFL) bulbs. They use about one-quarter of the energy to produce the same amount of light, last up to 10 times longer and produce about 75 percent less heat (which reduces cooling costs). See  important information about  facts, recycling and disposing of CFL light bulbs at the  bottom on this page
• Use LED light or CFL light strings for festive occasions: Many options are available even with solar features, this could save you money during the holiday season.  
• A/C ducts: A/C ducts are used to distribute conditioned air throughout houses with forced-air heating and cooling systems. In typical houses, about 20% of the air that moves through the duct system is lost due to leaks, holes and poorly connected ducts. The result is an inefficient HVAC system, high utility bills, and difficulty keeping the house comfortable, no matter how the thermostat is set. Look for holes, tears, and other signs of leaking ducts and seal them using mastic compound. Insulate all the ducts you can access (such as those in the attic, crawlspace or garage).
• Maintain the A/C unit: Just as a tune-up for a car can improve the gas mileage, a yearly tune-up of the heating and cooling system can improve efficiency and comfort.
• Doors & windows: Caulk and weather-strip around windows and doorframes that leak air.
• All penetrations: Cover and seal all penetration surroundings that lead from plumbing, ductwork, or electrical runs with caulk. Improving the home’s “envelope” or “shell” is one of the most important steps to maximize the home's energy efficiency and reduce energy bills. In the bathroom, sealing around drafty windows, baseboards, and floors can help avoid common mold and moisture problems.
• Attic: The attic is one of the places where often the biggest air leaks are found, which can increase  energy bills and make the house uncomfortably hot in summer and cold in winter. Weather-strip and insulate the attic door to improve the home's comfort and overall energy performance.
• Electrical Outlets and switches: Seal holes around outlets and switches with caulk and place inexpensive foam gaskets behind the cover plate. Use electic outlet plugs to help reduce air infiltration from the wall cavity into living spaces (for unused electric outlets).
• Outlets: Unplug all battery chargers or power adapters when not in use.
• Water Heater: Set the water heater thermostat to 120 F.

COMPACT FLUORESCENT LIGHT BULBS (CFLs) & MERCURY

Mercury is an essential element in the operation of fluorescent lighting; it allows the bulbs to be an efficient light source. Because CFLs contain trace amounts of mercury, it is important to educate yourself on proper use, recycling and disposal of these products.

The Facts about CFLs and Mercury

Because CFLs use less electricity than traditional light bulbs, they reduce demand for electricity; that reduction means less mercury is emitted from power plants. CFLs contain a very small amount of mercury — an average of 4 milligrams in each bulb. No mercury is released when the bulbs are intact or in use.

Why the EPA, DOE and others are promoting the use of CFLs

CFLs use significantly less energy than traditional light bulbs (75% less). If every home in America replaced just one incandescent light bulb with an ENERGY STAR qualified CFL, we would save enough energy to light more than 3 million homes and prevent greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to that of 800,000 cars. And even though CFLs contain a small amount of mercury that could ultimately end up in the environment, that amount is significantly less than the amount of mercury avoided as a result of the energy savings.

Recycling and Disposing of CFLs

Like any other product containing potentially hazardous materials that you use in your home, CFLs come with some special instructions.

Cleanup and Disposal Guidelines
Environmental protection Agency (EPA)
For Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs (CFLs)

What precautions should I take when using CFLs in my home?

CFLs are made of glass and can break if dropped or roughly handled. Be careful when removing the bulb from its packaging, installing it, or replacing it. Always screw and unscrew the light bulb by its base (not the glass), and never forcefully twist the CFL into a light socket. If a CFL breaks in your home, follow the clean-up recommendations below. Used CFLs should be disposed of properly (see below).

What should I do with a CFL when it burns out?

EPA recommends that consumers take advantage of available local recycling options for compact fluorescent light bulbs. EPA is working with CFL manufacturers and major U.S. retailers to expand recycling and disposal options. Consumers can contact their local municipal solid waste agency directly, or go to www.epa.gov/bulbrecycling or www.earth911.org to identify local recycling options.

If your state or local environmental regulatory agency permits you to put used or broken CFLs in the garbage, seal the bulb in two plastic bags and put it into the outside trash, or other protected outside location, for the next normal trash collection. Never send a fluorescent light bulb or any other mercury-containing product to an incinerator.

If your ENERGY STAR qualified CFL product burns out before it should, look at the CFL base to find the manufacturer’s name. Visit the manufacturer’s web site to find the customer service contact information to inquire about a refund or replacement. Manufacturers producing ENERGY STAR qualified CFLs are required to offer at least a two-year limited warranty (covering manufacturer defects) for CFLs used at home. In the future, save your receipts to document the date of purchase.

How should I clean up a broken fluorescent bulb?

Because CFLs contain a small amount of mercury, EPA recommends the following clean-up and disposal guidelines:

1. Before Clean-up: Air Out the Room
   1. Have people and pets leave the room, and don't let anyone walk through the breakage area on their way out.
   2. Open a window and leave the room for 15 minutes or more.
   3. Shut off the central forced-air heating/air conditioning system, if you have one.
2. Clean-Up Steps for Hard Surfaces
   1. Carefully scoop up glass fragments and powder using stiff paper or cardboard and place them in a glass jar with metal lid (such as a canning jar) or in a sealed plastic bag.
   2. Use sticky tape, such as duct tape, to pick up any remaining small glass pieces and powder.
   3. Wipe the area clean with damp paper towels or disposable wet wipes. Place towels in the glass jar or plastic bag.
   4. Do not use a vacuum or broom to clean up the broken bulb on hard surfaces.
3. Clean-up Steps for Carpeting or Rug:
   1. Carefully pick up glass fragments and place them in a glass jar with metal lid (such as a canning jar) or in a sealed plastic bag.
   2. Use sticky tape, such as duct tape, to pick up any remaining small glass fragments and powder.
   3. If vacuuming is needed after all visible materials are removed, vacuum the area where the bulb was broken.
   4. Remove the vacuum bag (or empty and wipe the canister), and put the bag or vacuum debris in a sealed plastic bag.
4. Clean-up Steps for Clothing, Bedding, etc.:
   1. If clothing or bedding materials come in direct contact with broken glass or mercury-containing powder from inside the bulb that may stick to the fabric, the clothing or bedding should be thrown away. Do not wash such clothing or bedding because mercury fragments in the clothing may contaminate the machine and/or pollute sewage.
   2. You can, however, wash clothing or other materials that have been exposed to the mercury vapor from a broken CFL, such as the clothing you are wearing when you cleaned up the broken CFL, as long as that clothing has not come into direct contact with the materials from the broken bulb.
   3. If shoes come into direct contact with broken glass or mercury-containing powder from the bulb, wipe them off with damp paper towels or disposable wet wipes. Place the towels or wipes in a glass jar or plastic bag for disposal.
5. Disposal of Clean-up Materials
   1. Immediately place all clean-up materials outdoors in a trash container or protected area for the next normal trash pickup.
   2. Wash your hands after disposing of the jars or plastic bags containing clean-up materials.
   3. Check with your local or state government about disposal requirements in your specific area. Some states do not allow such trash disposal. Instead, they require that broken and unbroken mercury-containing bulbs be taken to a local recycling center.
6. Future Cleaning of Carpeting or Rug: Air Out the Room During and After Vacuuming
   1. The next several times you vacuum, shut off the central forced-air heating/air conditioning system and open a window before vacuuming.
   2. Keep the central heating/air conditioning system shut off and the window open for at least 15 minutes after vacuuming is completed.

For more information about compact fluorescent bulbs, visit www.energystar.gov/cfls
For more information about compact fluorescent bulbs and mercury, visit www.energystar.gov/mercury
 

For more information regarding energy conservation visit

www.fpl.com
www.energystar.gov
 

Or contact

The City of Fort Myers
Sustainability Office
321-7926