The goal of the program is to put 7,000 CFLs in the hands of members before the end of the year. Members can drop off and pick up their bulbs at the following locations:

* Salvation Army stores in Soldotna and Homer;

* Kenai Peninsula Food Bank in Kenai;

* Homer Community Food Pantry;

* Seldovia Village Tribe in Seldovia;

* Port Graham Village Council;

* Nanwalek IRA Council;

* Ninilchik Traditional Council; and

* Homer Electric offices in Kenai and Homer.

"These (sites) were selected to ensure that the bulbs get into the hands of folks who might benefit the most from the exchange," said HEA Member Relations Manager Sandra Ghormley. "It's a very simple process. All a person has to do is bring (his or her) five incandescent bulbs to one of the distribution points. We will collect them in exchange for five new CFLs."

Replacing incandescent bulbs with CFLs can be a major source of savings for a household, according to HEA. One 15-watt CFL bulb uses 75 percent less energy than a 60-watt incandescent bulb to produce the same amount of light. The federal Environmental Protection Agency's Energy Star program reports Americans saved $1.5 billion by switching to CFLs in 2007. For more information, see the Web at www.energystar.gov.

The Kick inCan program is part of HEA's ongoing effort to provide energy conservation information and tools to its members. It comes on the heels of the HEA Energy and Conservation Fair held Saturday at Alaska Islands and Ocean Visitor Center.

Approximately 500 people from Homer and the surrounding area took advantage of a wealth of energy information offered by HEA and 18 vendors.