You asked (1) what percent of a typical home's electric use is attributable to lighting, (2) how much energy compact fluorescent lights (CFLs) use compared to incandescent lights, and (3) how much money and energy homeowner in Connecticut would save by switching to CFLs.

According to the U. S. Department of Energy, lighting accounts for approximately 17% of residential electric consumption nationally. CFLs that meet federal Energy Star standards (most do) use one-third or less of the amount of energy that standard incandescent bulbs use to provide the same amount of light, and CFLs last up to 10 times longer. In addition, CFLs generate 70% less heat than incandescent lights and can cut energy costs associated with home cooling. Further information on CFLs and the Energy Star program is available at http: //www. energystar. gov/index. cfm?c=cfls. pr_cfls.

The average Connecticut homeowner would save about 45 kilowatt-hours, and about $ 9 per year for each CFL installed, according to United Illuminating energy conservation staff (the savings would be similar for Connecticut Light & Power customers). A 2004 survey conducted for the two utilities found that the average home has 56 interior light sockets, of which on average 52 had incandescent bulbs. While not all light fixtures are suitable for CFLs, if Connecticut homeowners replaced the bulk of their incandescent lights with CFLs they could save several hundred dollars per year.