BTU is proud to announce the Compact Fluorescent Lighting (CFL) Rebate Program!

BTU residential customers are eligible to receive up to $3.50 credit on their utility bill by purchasing a qualifying four (4) pack of CFL bulbs.

Here’s how to receive your rebate:

Step 1.

Read about compact fluorescent lighting on our website and determine what type of CFL best fits your needs.

Step 2.

Purchase your 4-pack of CFL’s. Eligible bulbs must be Energy Star Rated (the Energy Star logo will be on the package) and purchases must be made from a vendor within the BTU service territory, that includes Bryan, Snook, Kurten. If you’re not sure if they are a retailer in the BTU service territory, check with them or email or call us.

Step 3.

Complete the Rebate Voucher that you can download from our website. Rebate Application

Step 4.

Mail or drop-off at the BTU Utility Building the following items to receive a credit on your bill.

Step 5.

Start enjoying the savings and peace of mind that comes from saving money and helping our Earth!

Each BTU residential customer may receive six (6) rebates over a five (5) year period.

ENERGY STAR qualified CFLs

• They use about 75% less energy than standard incandescent bulbs
• Save about $30 or more in electricity costs over the life of each CFL bulb
• They last up to 10,000 hours - while producing the same warm, natural light.
• CFLs give off less energy as heat.

CFLs create the same amount of light as incandescent bulbs at only a fraction of the wattage. Here's a chart of the differences:

Check for the ENERGY STAR label on the CFLs you purchase. A bulb labeled "energy efficient" may not be as energy efficient as an ENERGY STAR rated CFL.

Clarification

An "average use" home could realize the following savings:

• Cost Savings: Up to $97/yr; $914 over the products’ lifetime
• Energy Savings: Up to 595 kilo-watt hours/year; 5,596 kilo-watt hours over the products’ lifetime.
• Greenhouse Gas (CO2) Reduction: Up to 312 lbs/yr; 2,932 lbs. over the products’ lifetime – about as much CO2 as the average passenger car produces in 4 months of driving.

Savings based on replacing a mix of 12 incandescent bulbs with equivalent Compact Fluorescent Lamps (CFLs).

CFL Sizes and Shapes

CFLs come in a variety of shapes and sizes. The majority of CFLs are designed to look identical to the incandescent light bulb version. The table below identifies the most popular CFL shapes that are available at retail:

Bare Products		Covered Products			Reflector Products
Mini-Spiral or Twist	Tube or Universal	Incandescent/ A-line	Globe G25, G30, G40	Candelabra, Post or Bullet Shape	Indoor and Outdoor R20, R30, R40, PAR38

Choosing The Right Bulb

A Lumen is the measure of the total power of light emitted. To choose the energy-efficient bulb for your lamps, look for the product with similar, or higher, lumen output as your current lamps.

Bear in mind that covered lamps (ones you don’t see the spiral) generally give less lumen output.

How to Choose and Where to Use CFLs:

CFLs provide the greatest savings in fixtures that are on for a substantial amount of time each day. At a minimum, it is recommended to install qualified CFLs in fixtures that are used at least 15 minutes at a time or several hours per day. The best fixtures to use qualified CFLs in are usually found in the following areas of your home:

• Family and living rooms
• Kitchen
• Dining room
• Bedrooms
• Outdoors

How to Choose the Right Light:

Matching the right CFL to the right kind of fixture helps ensure that it will perform properly and last a long time.

• CFLs perform best in open fixtures that allow airflow, such as table and floor lamps, wall sconces, pendants, and outdoor fixtures.
• For recessed fixtures, it is better to use a reflector CFL than a spiral CFL since the design of the reflector evenly distributes the light down to your task area.
• If a light fixture is connected to a dimmer or three-way switch, you'll need to use a special CFL designed to work in these applications. Make sure to look for CFLs that specify use with dimmers or three-way fixtures.

ENERGY STAR Qualified CFLs and Color

Example of a 27000K qualified CFL

Example of a 3500K qualified CFL

ENERGY STAR qualified CFLs can produce varying shades of white light. The shade of white light is identified by the correlated color temperature or CCT, which is measured in Kelvin (K).

• Lower Kelvin numbers mean the light has a warmer color, while higher Kelvin numbers mean the light has a cooler color.
• The majority of CFLs available in the market offer soft or warm white light (2700K–3000K), which is comparable to an incandescent bulb.
• This color range works well in most residential settings and enhances warmer colors (red, yellow, orange) found in your home.
• Qualified CFLs are also available in higher Kelvin color temperature CFLs (3500K, 4100K, 5000K, 6500K) and will emit whiter to bluish-white light.
• These products are usually identified with the terms "bright white," "natural" or "daylight." These colors will enhance cooler colors (blue, green, violet) in your home.

DISCLAIMER

CFL systems are widely used around the world – information and research about the functionality and efficiency is readily available and consumers should make educated decisions about the purchase of CFL products. The information contained herein is intended as a general guide for use and application. All specifications for application, product content, rates of application, etc. are to be addressed by the manufacturer. The DOE Department of Energy provides information as a guide to assist users in making informed decisions on the correct use and implementation of CFL Products. Information relating to cost savings, energy savings and environmental benefits are estimates only. BTU makes no warranties or representations as to the actual savings or benefits realized by the use of solar power systems.