The Million Lights Campaign was launched in October 2006. This project — the result of a collaboration between the city of Kansas City, KCP&L and others — encouraged Kansas City residents to switch light fixtures or bulbs to those that have earned the ENERGY STAR label. This label designates products that meet strict energy efficiency criteria set by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

In October 2007, the Million Lights Campaign had surpassed its goal of placing one million ENERGY STAR light bulbs in homes and businesses in Kansas City. Additionally, the city’s Home Weatherization Program has required installation of compact fluorescent lights (CFLs) in all weatherized homes.

As of March 2008, 1,603,680 CFLs had been purchased or distributed. More than 23,000 CFLs have been distributed to low income, elderly and disabled households.

Lighting accounts for nearly 20 percent of the average home’s electric bill. ENERGY STAR-qualified CFLs use at least 75percent less energy than standard bulbs and last up to 10 times longer. Households in Kansas City have acted by changing more than one million bulbs. Over the life of the CFLs, households are saving a combined total of $34.3 million in energy costs and preventing more than 378,000 tons of greenhouse gas emissions, equivalent to the emissions from 13,250 cars. Download a report about this project (PDF)