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The Steve and Deb Schindler family recently became the first participants in the “House of Light” demonstration program sponsored by Corn Belt Power and its member RECs. Humboldt County REC provides electric service to the Schindler house, located near Irvington in Kossuth County.

Thought the program, Humboldt County REC provided a complete home lighting makeover replacing all incandescent light bulbs in the home with high-efficiency, compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs). On Aug. 1, each bulb in the Schindler home was replaced with lower-wattage CFL with similar light output (lumens). A total of 3,360 watts of incandescent lighting was replaced with 850 watts of CFLs. The bulb shapes included spirals for open and enclosed fixtures, globes for the bathroom fixtures, outdoor floods, A-bulbs for lamps and torpedo style for ceiling fan fixtures.

Lighting is responsible for significant energy use in a typical home. The Schindler family includes two adults and three children and many of their lights are on much of the time. The Schindlers’ home energy use will be monitored over future months to determine approximate energy savings from using the new bulbs.

The purpose of the “House of Light” campaign is to promote the use of energy efficient lighting. The Schindler family was selected by Humboldt County FEC through a random drawing of households that use various services provided by the REC.