Ace lights the way in Fort Hood, Texas

Ace Hardware delivered more than 72,000 energy-efficient light bulbs to military families at the Fort Hood (Texas) Army Base, the largest active-duty military installation in the United States.

The free supply of light bulbs was 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, with 75-watt incandescent bulbs no longer made in 2013, followed by the 60- and 40-watt incandescent bulbs phasing out in 2014. As a result, consumers will need to transition to energy-efficient light bulbs for their lighting needs, such as CFLs (compact florescent bulbs), LEDs (light-emitting diode) and energy-efficient halogen options.

According to Ace, CFL and LED bulbs offer about 70% more energy efficiency and last up to 10 times longer than older incandescent bulbs.

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 on base, Ace set-up an education event led by Manfredini to help families understand the new lighting standards and energy-efficient light bulb options currently available at their neighborhood Ace Hardware stores. Ace also donated an assortment of free GE energy-efficient light bulbs in varying wattages to each family and helped one lucky family update their entire homes' lighting accordingly through an on-site raffle at the event.

"We relished this opportunity to promote energy conservation to our residents," said Mack Quinney, Fort Hood Family Housing Project Director.