On August 1, 2023, the U.S. Department of Energy has instituted a ban on less efficient and more costly incandescent light bulbs. Lighting accounts for about 12 percent of an average household’s energy expense and switching to more efficient, longer-lasting LED (Light Emitting Diode) bulbs can save homeowners about $225 annually. Additionally, it is advised that homeowners phase out the use of compact fluorescent (CFL) bulbs because they contain mercury, a toxic hazardous waste product. The CFL bulbs must be carefully recycled to separate out the mercury to avert its release into the environment. They should NOT be disposed of in your normal trash!
To help our neighbors make the shift to LED lighting, Mill Creek Village has asked the county’s Project Porchlight, a Montgomery Energy Connection program, to come to Mill Creek Towne. A porch is typically the entryway into one’s home and the first point of contact to learning more about energy saving options. On the weekends of December 2-3 and 9-10, between 10:00 AM and 3:00 PM, Energy Ambassadors will be going door-to-door in our neighborhood to install county-provided LED bulbs on your porches. If you are not home, they will leave you information to make the switch.
The Energy Ambassadors will collect your incandescent light bulbs and CFLs. They will properly dispose of these and give you one LED bulb in return for every three incandescent and/or CFL bulbs, up to 3 LEDs for 9 older bulbs. LEDs are far more energy efficient and longer lasting than these other bulbs. The county provides 60W equivalent WARM light LEDs, which avert the excessive brightness and glare that earlier blue light-emitting LEDs produced. We hope you can take advantage of this opportunity!
See scheduled visits on our Events Calendar.