[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 54 (Wednesday, March 28, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E662]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             INTRODUCTION OF THE BRIGHT ENERGY SAVINGS ACT

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                          HON. DANIEL LIPINSKI

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, March 27, 2007

  Mr. LIPINSKI. Madam Speaker, today I am introducing the Bulb 
Replacement In Government with high-efficiency Technology Energy 
Savings Act, otherwise known as the BRIGHT energy savings act.
  Today Americans are rightly concerned about the impact of foreign 
energy dependence on our national security and the effect of global 
climate change on the future of our planet. The BRIGHT Energy Savings 
Act will help us to address both of these issues by cutting down 
significantly on energy use by the Federal government, and at the same 
time it will save millions of taxpayer dollars. It's a win for the 
environment, a win for national security, and a win for American 
taxpayers.
  This bill directs the GSA to replace commonly used low efficiency 
light bulbs with high efficiency bulbs whenever a new bulb is installed 
in a GSA-owned federal building.
  The impact of the BRIGHT Energy Savings Act could be significant. The 
GSA owns approximately 1,800 facilities with about 174 million square 
feet of space. At least 3 million lights throughout the Federal 
government could be upgraded to high efficiency bulbs.
  One type of high efficiency bulb that could be used is the Energy 
Star-certified Compact Fluorescent Light bulb, also known as a CFL. 
CFLs use approximately 75 percent less energy than incandescent bulbs 
to provide the same amount of light and they last approximately 8-10 
times longer. Replacing an ordinary bulb with a comparable CFL saves up 
to $74 in energy costs over the bulb's lifetime. It's easy to see that 
hundreds of millions in taxpayer dollars can be saved by implementing 
this bill.
  As an engineer by training, I am fascinated by the promise of new and 
emerging technologies and what they mean for our future. In addition to 
CFLs, new halogen technologies are expected to become commercially 
available later this year. Further down the road, LEDs (light-emitting 
diodes) will revolutionize the lighting industry, leading to vastly 
more efficient lighting and the prospect of bulbs that do not burn out. 
Much of this technology represents American ingenuity and innovation, 
and provides hope for a brighter future. And with the Federal 
government purchasing large quantities of these high efficiency bulbs, 
this next generation of technology will be less costly to put in 
American homes.
  Reduced energy consumption, lower greenhouse gas emissions, and saved 
taxpayer dollars. It's a common sense, practical measure that is simply 
the right thing to do. A bipartisan group of more than 35 members have 
already joined us on the BRIGHT Energy Savings Act; clearly, the future 
is bright.

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