Join the Montgomery County Department of Environmental Protection and Montgomery County Public Libraries (MCPL) for a light bulb exchange event taking place during Energy Action Month, October. Energy Action Month is an opportunity to encourage residents to take proactive steps to lower their energy usage and their utility bills. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, lighting is used in all homes and consumes a substantial share of electricity—10 percent of the total electricity used in homes.
These light bulb exchanges offer an opportunity for residents to lower their utility costs by switching to more energy efficient light bulbs, light emitting diodes (LEDs). Replacing just five of the most frequently used light fixtures with energy efficient bulbs can save more than $65 a year in energy costs.
While compact fluorescent (CFL) light bulbs use one-third of the electricity, and last up to 10 times longer than incandescent light bulbs, they contain a small amount of mercury and should be handled carefully and always disposed of properly. These light bulb exchanges give residents an opportunity to recycle these bulbs the right way and lower their energy costs at the same time.
Residents can bring their old incandescent and CFL light bulbs to the following MCPL branches in exchange for new LEDs. There is a limit of 3 bulbs per family at each event:
- Aspen Hill, 4407 Aspen Hill Road, Rockville – Friday, Oct. 1, 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.
- Chevy Chase, 8005 Connecticut Ave., Chevy Chase – Saturday, Oct. 9, 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.
- Connie Morella (Bethesda), 7400 Arlington Road, Bethesda – Tuesday, Oct. 12, 1 p.m. – 3 p.m.
- Damascus, 9701 Main Street, Damascus – Wednesday, Oct. 13, 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.
- Davis (North Bethesda), 6400 Democracy Blvd, Bethesda – Thursday, Oct. 14, 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.
- Gaithersburg, 18330 Montgomery Village Ave., Gaithersburg – Friday, Oct. 15, 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.
- Kensington Park, 4201 Knowles Ave., Kensington – Saturday, Oct. 16, 11 a.m.-1 p.m.
- Little Falls, 5501 Massachusetts Ave., Bethesda – Monday, Oct. 18, 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.
- Long Branch, 8800 Garland Ave., Silver Spring – Tuesday, Oct. 19, 1 p.m. – 3 p.m.
- Marilyn J. Praisner (Burtonsville), 14910 Old Columbia Pike, Burtonsville – Wednesday, Oct. 20, 11 a.m. -1 p.m.
- Noyes Library for Young Children, 10237 Carroll Place, Kensington – Thursday, Oct. 21, 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.
- Olney, 3500 Olney-Laytonsville Rd., Olney – Friday, Oct. 22, 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.
- Potomac, 10101 Glenolden Drive, Potomac – Saturday, Oct. 23, 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.
- Quince Orchard, 15831 Quince Orchard Road, Gaithersburg – Monday, Oct. 25, 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.
- Rockville Memorial, 21 Maryland Ave., Rockville – Tuesday, Oct. 26, 1 p.m. – 3 p.m.
- Silver Spring, 900 Wayne Ave., Silver Spring – Wednesday, Oct. 27, 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.
- Twinbrook, 202 Meadow Hall Drive, Rockville – Thursday, Oct. 28, 1 p.m. – 3 p.m.
- Wheaton, 11701 Georgia Avenue, Silver Spring – Friday, Oct. 29, 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.
- White Oak, 11701 New Hampshire Ave., Silver Spring – Saturday, Oct. 30, 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.
For more information on lowering your utility costs and keeping money in your pocket, visit www.MontgomeryEnergyConnection.org.