Puget Sound Energy and Project Porchlight volunteers will deliver 275,000 free Energy Star-qualified, compact fluorescent light (CFL) bulbs to PSE residential electric customers during the month of July.

The door-to-door summer campaign will include PSE customers in Bellevue, Renton, Kirkland, Issaquah and beyond.

The PSE and Project Porchlight campaign is a grassroots initiative designed to mobilize and empower people to take advantage of the benefits of switching to energy-efficient CFL bulbs. Every light bulb changed will save $43 or more in electricity costs over its lifetime. CFL bulbs last up to 10 times longer than old fashioned incandescent light bulbs and use 75 percent less electricity.

Since PSE began its energy efficient lighting program in 2002, the utility has distributed more than 10 million CFL bulbs within its electric service area, an average of 10 CFL bulbs per household.

“Mobilizing communities is key to reducing energy use in PSE’s service area,” said Cal Shirley, vice president of Energy Efficiency Services for PSE. “Customers in the Lake Hills neighborhood of Bellevue were thrilled with PSE’s door-to-door volunteer program earlier this year, and we want all our electric customers to know they can individually make a difference in our region and encourage them to spread the word to friends, family and neighbors. By getting communities involved, we all save energy, save money and protect the environment.”

In PSE’s service area, the 275,000 bulbs to be distributed by Project Porchlight translate to overall savings of almost $12 million in customer energy costs, and a reduction of almost 70 million pounds of greenhouse gas emissions.

Interested volunteers for the door-to-door campaign can stop by sign up recruitment booths at community events (visit projectporchlight.org/events for dates) or sign-up online at www.porchlight.org.