OUT WITH THE OLD

ALAMEDA, Calif., January 1, 2005 — Can you believe it's already 2005? Here's something that may be harder to believe: a relic of the twentieth century still found in many homes is both a fire hazard and an energy waster.

Public service announcements have educated the public of the extreme fire danger of halogen torchiere lamps. Yet, an estimated 50 million halogen torchieres are still in use today. Could one or more of these lamps be in your house?

If you bought a halogen floor lamp or torchiere in the 1990s, you were not alone. In just two years, 40 million of the lamps were purchased, with many millions more bought before and after. People selected halogen torchieres for their bright, indirect light and elegant design. In many cases, the price was a steal, too.

However, halogen bulbs rated at 300 or 500 watts can reach or exceed 1,000 degrees Fahrenheit, temperatures high enough to ignite paper, cloth, wood, and many plastics within seconds of contact. A popular demonstration shows a blanket bursting into flames less than a minute after being draped over a halogen lamp.

Perhaps you have already taken the time to get rid of any halogen torchieres you purchased. But, with so many of these lamps still in use, a quick check of your home is a good idea. Look through every room, the garage, attic, and every storage space (yes, that closet, too) to be sure you no longer own any halogen torchiere lamps. Even if tucked away, someone could still grab one of the lamps for temporary use unaware of its danger, such as a younger member of the household. Remember to check any lamps purchased at estate or yard sales. Sure, the price was right, but the cost of a fire in your home, and most importantly, the risk of losing lives, is far greater.

Even if you are fortunate enough to avoid a fire, halogen lamps are energy wasters costing up to $5 per month in electricity costs. Thanks to ENERGY STAR®, you no longer have to sacrifice the pleasant lighting offered by torchieres. ENERGY STAR has approved torchiere-style fixtures using compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs). The ENERGY STAR lamps are well priced and come with a guarantee, often extending far longer than other lamps on the market.

If you cannot be sure when a torchiere was purchased or manufactured, and if it doesn't bear an ENERGY STAR label, your best bet is a quick trip to the trashcan. Participants in Alameda Power & Telecom's Energy Assistance Program for low-income customers may have their halogen lamp taken away and replaced with a new, safe, ENERGY STAR-approved CFL torchiere.

While you can substitute CFLs for incandescent bulbs in other fixtures, halogen lamps are not designed to accept a CFL. A new lamp will be required, but purchasing an ENERGY STAR torchiere is a great investment. For example, a $40 ENERGY STAR torchiere can lead to savings of $300 in energy bills and replacement lamps over the life of the fixture. Of course, considering the items, and loved ones, in your home, safety has no price.

For more information about selecting ENERGY STAR approved lamps and CFLs, visit www.energystar.gov. For more information about Alameda Power & Telecom's Energy Assistance Program, call the local Red Cross office at 814-4219.