Military switches to fluorescent lights

WASHINGTON, Oct. 20 (UPI) -- The U.S. Department of Energy says 84 military bases have shifted from traditional incandescent light to the use of compact fluorescent light bulbs.

The change -- part of Energy Star, a joint Energy Department and Environmental Protection Agency project -- is designed to produce savings by a substantial reduction in energy use.

As of the beginning of October, 84 bases had installed 359,268 compact fluorescent light bulbs in 40,951 housing units, the Energy Department said. The change-outs were estimated to save more than 100 million kilowatt-hours over the life of the bulbs, cut nearly $11 million in energy costs and prevent the emissions of more than 150 million pounds of carbon dioxide.

Leading the military effort is Fort Drum U.S. Army base in New York. The base changed 106,012 bulbs.

Camp Lejeune in North Carolina exceeded its goal to change at least one bulb in each of its 3,500 housing units. Instead, the U.S. Marines base changed 19,020 bulbs in nearly 5,000 housing units.

The Tobyhanna Army Depot in Pennsylvania had pledged to switch 2,414 bulbs but ened up changing 23,158 bulbs.