Ace Lightens the Load for Military Families at Fort Hood this Holiday Season

On Thursday, Dec. 15, Ace will travel to Fort Hood, Texas, to provide military families on the Fort Hood Army Base with over 72,000 energy-efficient light bulbs. Fort Hood is the largest active-duty military installation in the United States. The free supply of light bulbs is intended to help residents of the Fort Hood Army Base turn their home maintenance to-do list into a to-done list as they prepare for new energy-efficient lighting standards scheduled to take effect in early 2012.

According to the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007, 100-watt general service incandescent light bulbs can no longer be manufactured for the United States beginning in 2012. This change will be the first of several phase-outs over the next two years: 75-watt incandescent bulbs may no longer be made in 2013 and 60- and 40-watt incandescent bulbs will be phased out in 2014. As a result of this change, consumers must transition to energy-efficient light bulbs for their lighting needs. Bulbs such as CFLs (compact florescent bulbs), LEDs (light-emitting diode) and energy-efficient halogens are options.

As incandescent bulbs begin to be phased out, Ace is lighting the way for consumers, starting with military families at the Fort Hood Army Base. While at the base, Ace will set-up an education event led by Lou Manfredini to help families understand the new lighting standards and energy-efficient light bulb options currently available at their neighborhood Ace Hardware stores. Ace will also donate an assortment of free GE® energy-efficient light bulbs in varying wattages to each family and help one lucky family update their entire homes’ lighting through an on-site raffle at the event.

Submitted by Kate Kirkpatrick, Public Relations Dept, Ace Hardware Corporation