PNNL reaches goal to change world one light at a time

More than 1,000 employees take a pledge for a brighter, cleaner world

RICHLAND, Wash. – How many employees does it take to change an incandescent light bulb to a more environmentally friendly one" When it comes to Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, that figure is approximately 1,000. That’s the number of staff members who recently committed to participate in the national Energy Star® Change a Light, Change the World Campaign.

In all, PNNL has enlisted more than 1,000 employees who have pledged to replace at least one incandescent bulb or fixture in their homes with one that has earned the government’s Energy Star® label.

By meeting this goal, PNNL will collectively conserve more than two million kilowatt-hours of energy per year and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by nearly three million pounds.

“I’m proud that PNNL currently leads Department of Energy national laboratories in the campaign,” said Mike Moran, a facility energy specialist. “Those 1,000-plus employees went well beyond the minimum pledge. They committed to replace more than 7,100 incandescent bulbs with energy efficient compact fluorescent bulbs. That’s more than seven bulbs per employee on average.”

The City of Richland Energy Services Department provided the first 500 energy efficient compact florescent bulbs for the campaign, which will be credited towards their Conservation Rate Credit. These 500 bulbs were distributed to PNNL employees who were willing to take pledge.