Thousands take energy pledge

Purchase-based PepsiCo Inc. and Fairfield-based General Electric Co. are among the leaders nationally in encouraging people to install high-efficiency light bulbs.

As of October, more than 1 million people have pledged to replace 2.7 million bulbs under the U.S. Department of Energy”™s “Energy Star Change a Light Campaign.”

In New York, the Department of Energy has collected more than 43,000 promises to change a total 110,000 bulbs, which it says will save $2.9 million in energy costs. In Connecticut, another 8,000-plus people say they have switched 24,000 bulbs, saving an additional $600,000.

Home Depot and Southern California Edison led all corporations through October by encouraging 2,700 people to make pledges. PepsiCo ranked third with nearly 2,000 pledges, while GE was fourth at 1,600.

Pledges can be registered at www.energystar.gov.