ESKOM and government’s national compact fluorescent lamp (CFL) exchange programme will continue in the Western Cape to August, allowing consumers to exchange incandescent light bulbs for CFL’s.
Approximately one million CFL’s will be distributed free in areas which include the Cape Winelands.
A compact fluorescent light bulb, or CFL, is an energy efficient bulb that can replace an incandescent light bulb.
CFL’s use up to 80% less energy than incandescent light bulbs and they last six to ten times longer.
This reduces demand on the available energy supply and amounts to cost savings for homeowners in the long term.
Eskom is working on a budgeted figure of six free CFL light bulbs per home.
Field distributors will deliver ‘knock and drop’ leaflets at houses within the selected wards to warn residents that visits by the installers are imminent.
Educational pamphlets on CFL’s are also distributed a week or so prior to the distribution.
The rollout is done in three sweeps. First a contractor tries to install during the week, if no-one is home the installer comes back in the evening, and if still unsuccessful, a third time during the weekend.
This allows for a reasonable number of opportunities for a successful exchange.
Unfortunately, pre-arranged times for the exchanges are not possible.
You can use a CFL to replace many incandescent light bulbs in the home.
Most of them come with standard screw-in bases as well as candelabra bases for a variety of decorative light models.
