Editorial: Enlightening consumers

Wednesday, Jan. 3, 2007 | 7:13 a.m.

I t has long been known that compact fluourescent (CF) light bulbs could dramatically cut down on household energy use. The problem has been getting enough Americans to use them. That could change, however.

According to a story by The New York Times on Tuesday, the discount retail giant Wal-Mart has announced plans to encourage consumers to purchase CF light bulbs. Wal-Mart executives told the Times that they hope to sell at least 100 million of the spiral-shaped, energy-saving bulbs this year.

Compact fluorescent bulbs use 75 percent less electricity than conventional pear-shaped bulbs. They also last longer - up to 10,000 hours for one CF bulb, compared to 1,000 hours for a conventional bulb. The lifetime of a CF bulb often is calculated in terms of years, rather than hours.

Many Americans don't use the energy-saving bulbs because they cost up to eight times more than conventional ones, give off a brighter, harsher light and look different. Still, if Wal-Mart succeeds in selling 100 million of the CF bulbs this year, the Times reports, it could save $3 billion in Americans' electricity costs and could mean that 450,000 new homes could be built without having to erect additional power plants to supply them.

There are drawbacks. The CF bulbs are manufactured in Asia, and a massive switch could result in the loss of jobs for Americans who manufacture conventional bulbs. It also could trigger domestic job losses as companies such as General Electric make fewer sales because the CF bulbs last for years, industry experts told the Times.

Wal-Mart for years has been criticized for not being a good corporate citizen, from charges that it has put mom-and-pop stores out of business to offering its own workers low pay and poor benefits.

Aggressively marketing a more energy-efficient light bulb will not likely mute such criticisms - and it may not stem the tide of other competitors, such as Target, that are continuing to lure away what used to be loyal Wal-Mart customers. Selling tens of millions of environmentally friendly light bulbs, however, would put a wiser energy choice within reach for millions of consumers at a time when we need such choices.