HUD Partners with Alabama Power Company
to Reduce Energy Costs for
Alabama's Low Income Families

U.S. Representative Artur Davis (second from left) joins Birmingham Field Office Director Cindy Yarbrough, Birmingham Office of Public Housing Director Ed Sprayberry, and Jefferson County Housing Authority Director Louis McDonald in presenting a box of CFL bulbs to Mrs. Mabel Donner, the Resident Commissioner for Jefferson County Housing Authority for distribution to residents.

Representative Davis noted in his remarks at the event, that energy costs are taking a bigger and bigger bite out of the budgets of economically disadvantaged families and recognized both HUD and Alabama Power Company for this effort to assist low-income families to reduce both their energy consumption and costs.

Birmingham Field Office Director Cindy Yarbrough noted in her remarks at the event that the bulbs being provided would provide total energy savings of $185,176 over their projected lifetime, when compared to more traditional incandescent lighting. In addition to energy savings, the use of the 2,500 bulbs would be equivalent to removing 186 cars from the road each year.

Bruce Johnson, Marketing Specialist with Alabama Power noted that for Alabama Power Company energy savings is about more than just money, it is also about managing the use of fixed capacity of power production in the State. He said that Alabama has built no new production facilities since 1983. With the impact of the drought on production capacity, and the continued demand for power, unless communities undertake serious efforts to conserve power, we could see a day when we face shortages.

Field Office Director Cindy Yarbrough presents a Certificate of Appreciation to Bruce Johnson, Marketing Specialist with Alabama Power Company, both for the Company's donation of 2,500 CFL bulbs as well as their ongoing willingness to partner with HUD to address ways to reduce the energy cost of low-income residents of the State of Alabama.

U.S. Representative Artur Davis offers remarks during energy savings event. Representative Davis noted that energy bills are taking a bite out of the quality of life of low-income residents and welcomed this effort to help lower them.

CFL bulbs reduce energy costs to residents in two ways: (1) CFL bulbs use one third the energy of traditional incandescent light bulbs; and (2) CFL bulbs last ten times longer that incandescent light bulbs.

The local partnership between the Birmingham HUD Office and the Alabama Power Company supports the national initiative to reduce energy costs, especially for low-income families, by more than 15% over the next 10 years.