According to a recent article in the Austin Business Journal, mayors from Austin, Dallas, El Paso, Houston and San Antonio are preparing for a major switch to help alleviate some energy strains for Texas electricity customers. The compact florescent lights (CFLs) will help Texans use 75 percent less energy to light their homes, a switch that is prompting the five mayors to designate the CFL as the "state bulb."

CFLs are unique in their design and performance, lasting up to 10 times longer than traditional, incandescent bulbs, and coupled with the savings in energy use, the CFL could save more than $30 over the lifetime of each bulb. As Texas homes make the switch, the cumulative effects over time could be astronomical, as the Environmental Protection Agency and Department of Energy have estimated that using one CFL in every home could save more than $600 million annually.

The designation of a state bulb is a part of a push by Texas to increase its overall energy efficiency, where as of now the state ranks 11th according to the Natural Resources Defense Council.

For additional information on the proposed switch to CFLs, please see this article in the Austin Business Journal.