ATLANTA, Oct. 6  -- Georgia Power is encouraging its customers to help the environment by supporting the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) "Change the World, Start with ENERGY STAR" campaign.  A key portion of the yearlong campaign focuses on lighting, which kicks off on "Change a Light" day, Oct. 6.

The campaign asks consumers to take the pledge to change at least one standard incandescent light bulb to an ENERGY STAR qualified compact fluorescent light bulb (CFL), switch to ENERGY STAR qualified appliances and products, use a programmable thermostat, ensure their home is well-insulated and make other energy-efficient lifestyle changes.  

"We want our customers to understand that the smallest things can add up to a real difference.  A small step like pledging to change at least one incandescent bulb in a home or business to a CFL can save money, energy and help the environment," said Angela Strickland, Georgia Power's director of Energy Efficiency. "Energy efficiency is a priority for Georgia Power and we see tremendous value in equipping our customers with information on ENERGY STAR programs and products that can benefit them."  

Changing a standard light bulb to an ENERGY STAR qualified CFL can save more than $30 over the life of the bulb.  ENERGY STAR qualified CFLs use 75 percent less energy and last up to 10 times longer.  Choose ENERGY STAR qualified appliances and products for your home and save.  ENERGY STAR appliances not only use 10 percent to 50 percent less energy, they also use less water.

Georgia Power will promote the campaign to its customers beginning Oct. 4, in conjunction with Customer Service Appreciation Week, a national event which recognizes the importance of customer service and honors the frontline workforce that serves customers.

Customers are invited to take the pledge online at www.georgiapower.com or look for the pledge card in their October bills.

"Georgia Power has been an ENERGY STAR partner since 2004.  We are proud to have been recognized as EPA's national pledge leader for the past two years and ranked in the top-five national pledge leaders since 2006," Strickland said.  "We hope to continue our forward momentum during this year's campaign, which concludes April 2011.  We encourage all of our customers to take the pledge and change a light!"

In 2009, Georgia Power distributed more than 120,000 CFLs, and since 2006 more than 450,000 CFLs have been given in exchange for a pledge.

If household customers are looking for a place to recycle used CFLs, there's no need to worry.  Georgia Power has partnered with The Home Depot to offer recycling for compact fluorescent light bulbs at the retailer's stores in Georgia.

Georgia Power sponsors in-store bins at all 88 of The Home Depot locations in the state, which creates the state's most widespread recycling program for CFLs and brings relatively convenient recycling within reach of most households.  

Over 23,000 pounds of CFLs have been recycled through Georgia Power's partnership with The Home Depot. For more information about the CFL recycling program, visit www.homedepot.com/ecooptions.

Georgia Power encourages its customers to practice energy efficiency year-round.  For additional money-saving energy efficiency tips, visit www.georgiapower.com.  For additional information about ENERGY STAR, visit www.energystar.gov.  

Georgia Power is the largest subsidiary of Southern Company, one of the nation's largest generators of electricity.  The company is an investor-owned, tax-paying utility with rates well below the national average.  Georgia Power serves 2.3 million customers in all but four of Georgia's 159 counties.