ATLANTA, Oct. 2, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- For the seventh year, Georgia Power is encouraging its customers to help the environment and save energy by supporting the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) "Change the World, Start with ENERGY STAR^®" campaign. Georgia Power currently ranks as the top EPA national pledge leader for the 2011-2012 campaign. The company has distributed more than 680,000 compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) to customers in exchange for pledges since establishing the partnership with the EPA pledge campaign in 2006. 

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Through the campaign, customers are encouraged to take the pledge to change at least one standard incandescent light bulb to an ENERGY STAR qualified CFL, switch to ENERGY STAR qualified appliances and products, make sure their homes are properly sealed and insulated, recycle old, inefficient second refrigerators and make other energy-efficient lifestyle changes.

"We want to remind our customers that even small steps, like pledging to change at least one incandescent bulb in a home or business to a CFL, can help them use energy more efficiently and save money," said Mike Hazelton, Georgia Power's vice president of marketing.

Using CFLs is an easy way for customers to become more energy efficient. ENERGY STAR qualified CFLs use 75 percent less energy and last up to 10 times longer than standard light bulbs, and can save more than $30 over the life of the bulb.  

Georgia Power is promoting the campaign to customers in conjunction with Customer Service Appreciation Week, a national event that recognizes the importance of customer service and honors the frontline workforce that serves customers.

Customers are invited to take the pledge online at georgiapower.com or look for the pledge card in their October bills. This effort is part of Georgia Power's EarthCents initiative. EarthCents is Georgia Power's portfolio of energy efficiency programs created to help customers save money, use energy efficiently and help the environment. Energy efficiency is a priority for Georgia Power, and the company sees tremendous value in offering customers opportunities to take action through EarthCents programs and campaigns.

If household customers are looking for a place to recycle used CFLs, Georgia Power has partnered with The Home Depot to offer recycling for CFLs at all 88 retail stores in Georgia. Georgia Power sponsors the in-store bins, which creates the state's most widespread recycling program for CFLs and brings relatively convenient recycling within reach of most households. 

Georgia Power encourages its customers to practice energy efficiency year-round. For additional information about EarthCents and to learn about available offers such as appliance rebates, visit georgiapower.com/earthcents. For more information about ENERGY STAR, visit 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 below the national average.  Georgia Power serves 2.4 million customers in all but four of Georgia's 159 counties. 

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SOURCE Georgia Power