NAU’s Office of Sustainability will distribute 5,000 compact fluorescent light bulbs next week during a “CFL Swap-out.”
Arizona Public Service donated the light bulbs to help NAU get closer to its goal of carbon neutrality by 2020.
Volunteers will pass out CFLs to on-campus residents to replace inefficient bulbs that students may have brought to campus themselves.
The event will kick off from 1 to 3 p.m. Monday, Aug. 25, from in the Cowden Hall/Tinsley Hall breezeway near Knoles Drive. Other hall residents will have designated times throughout the week for pick-up in their lobby.
“Overhead lighting in the residence halls has been converted to high-efficiency lighting already,” said Heather Farley, program coordinator in the Office of Sustainability. “Our office is excited to have an opportunity to capture another potential area of energy use on campus and ensure that it is as efficient as possible.”
CFL light bulbs provide the same light output as incandescent bulbs but at a much lower wattage. Each CFL light bulb uses about 75 percent less energy than standard incandescent bulbs and last up to 10 times longer.
This accounts for an approximate savings of $30 per bulb over the life of the CFL and could translate into an annual savings of about $30,000 for the university.
Information about cost savings and proper disposal will be distributed along with the bulbs.