With gas prices and other commodities so high, consumers are looking to save whenever and wherever they can. Rather than paying as much as $5 for a single energy-efficient Compact Florescent Light bulb (CFL), you can pay $2 for a 4-pack of CFLs, brought to you by the SAR Retail Center, courtesy of SMUD. CFLs now come in a variety of sizes and lumen (brightness) to fit just about any lighting fixture in your home.

These energy star bulbs save an average of $92* per bulb throughout its average life span of 9 years. Also a mere 23 watt CFL bulb will get you the same brightness as a 100 watt incandescent bulb. These soft white, spiral shaped bulbs have an average life of 10,000 hours.  Not only will you save in energy costs, but it would take about 10 bulbs to last as long as one CFL. Using one CFL bulb prevents a half ton of CO2 from being released into the atmosphere over the life of the bulb.

Energy saved by CFL bulbs in the average household amounts up to 15% in savings off the total electric bill. That is because CFLs consume up to 75% less energy than incandescent bulbs and emits about 20% of the heat, and all this while still retaining the same level of brightness.

All members of the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR), basically meaning any REALTOR®, are given an exclusive price of $2 for a pack of 4 CFLs. REALTORS® should take advantage of this to help promote and market themselves. What better tool to help market yourself to potential clients? Just go around your local neighborhoods, introduce yourself and tell them that you would like to give them a gift that can save them some money. Handing out the CFLs show that you care about your neighborhood and the environment. At $2 for a 4 pack of CFLs, the price makes it easy to give them away as gifts to clients, whom normally pay as much as $18 for 4 CFLs.

And just to warn you-these great, energy-efficient bulbs come with a small risk, that is greatly outweighed by it’s benifits. Small amounts of mercury are present in each CFL, making it illegal to just simply throw them away. All CFLs must be properly recycled in designated drop off locations. For help on how to clean up broken CFLS, click here. You can always check out and get more tips on CFLs and where to recycle them at Earth911. If you live in Sacramento then you are in luck as the City of Sacramento Department of Utilities has initiated a pick-up service for old compact fluorescent light bulbs. Residents can call (916) 808-5454 to schedule an appointment.

*$92 in savings based on 12 cents per kwh with 3 hours of use per day. $92 reflects energy savings throughout the life of the CFL bulb (usually 9 years).