Housing Authority takes green steps

By Rayma Silvers

The Fort Scott Tribune

In order to help local residents become more energy efficient, the Fort Scott Housing Authority is purchasing energy efficient light bulbs to be placed in all of its housing units.

As the result of a recent energy audit, according to Fort Scott Housing Authority Director Sharon Stewart, the agency has created a five-year plan, designed to help its residents save energy.

Stewart said that the Housing Authority will be using part of its allotted funds to purchase new energy efficient light bulbs to be placed in all 191 of the housing units it owns. The new bulbs, which will cost the Housing Authority about $30,000, will help their residents begin saving energy.

According to Stewart, the regular incandescent light bulbs will soon be phased out, and everyone will have to comply with new laws and regulations concerning energy efficiency. Equipping the housing units with the new bulbs will help tenants come into compliance.

Confirming Stewart's information, the U.S. Department of Energy's interactive Web site said that by the year 2012, everyone will have to begin abiding by new energy rules.

"New energy-savings standards are being phased in starting in 2012, meaning inefficient incandescent bulbs of today will be a thing of the past," the USDE Web site said.

According to the USDE, if every home in America changed only one of its light bulbs from the standard light bulb to an energy-saving compact fluorescent light bulb, the United States would save about six billion kilowatts per year, which would generate enough energy to light almost three million homes. In addition, more than $600 million would be saved in annual energy costs.

Energy Star, which is a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Program, said that the type of light bulbs a household uses can drastically affect a family's electric costs.

"Lighting accounts for close to 20 percent of the average home's electric bill. Energy Star qualified CFLs use up to 75 percent less energy than incandescent light bulbs, last up to 10 times longer, cost little up front, and provide a quick return on investment," a written statement found at www.energystar.gov said.

Stewart said that in addition to changing the light bulbs in its units, the Housing Authority is also making plans to upgrade some of its heating, ventilating, and air conditioning systems and in the future as part of the five-year plan, the agency will also install water saving toilets in all of its units.