Wal-Mart to Market House-Brand CFLs to U.S. Customers
Wal-Mart yesterday announced its plan to release its own brand of energy-efficient compact fluorescent light bulbs, which will go on sale at more than 3,000 of its U.S. stores by the end of the month.
Wal-Mart yesterday announced its plan to release its own brand of energy-efficient compact fluorescent light bulbs, which will go on sale at more than 3,000 of its U.S. stores by the end of the month.
The new light bulbs, carrying Wal-Mart's "Great Value" house brand name, are intended to bring energy-saving CFL technology to consumers at a more conservative price than the other, branded bulbs Wal-Mart sells. The company will continue to sell the brand-name bulbs alongside its own line, and hopes the new, more-affordable bulbs will help it achieve its goal in selling 100 million CFL bulbs by the end of 2007.
"We want to make eco-friendly living more affordable for our customers and with the Great Value CFLs, we can make energy-efficiency easy at an unbeatable price," said Wal-Mart Senior Vice President Andy Barron.
Barron estimated that, if Wal-Mart reaches its 100-million-bulb goal, it will help their customers save $3 billion in electrical costs over the life of the bulbs and prevent 20 million metric tons of greenhouse gases from entering the atmosphere.
Yesterday's announcement follows on the heels of Wal-Mart changing its advertising slogan, to "Save Money. Live Better," from "Always Low Prices." The move, announced last week, is the first change in slogans in 19 years, and may reflect an added emphasis on the company's recent environmental initiatives.
The purchase of CFLs are picking up momentum as environmental awareness awakens energy concerns among shoppers. CFLs can result in an energy savings of 75 percent, as opposed to incandescent bulbs, and generally last from eight to 10 years, as compared to an average of one year for a conventional light bulb.
The new light bulbs, carrying Wal-Mart's "Great Value" house brand name, are intended to bring energy-saving CFL technology to consumers at a more conservative price than the other, branded bulbs Wal-Mart sells. The company will continue to sell the brand-name bulbs alongside its own line, and hopes the new, more-affordable bulbs will help it achieve its goal in selling 100 million CFL bulbs by the end of 2007.
"We want to make eco-friendly living more affordable for our customers and with the Great Value CFLs, we can make energy-efficiency easy at an unbeatable price," said Wal-Mart Senior Vice President Andy Barron.
Barron estimated that, if Wal-Mart reaches its 100-million-bulb goal, it will help their customers save $3 billion in electrical costs over the life of the bulbs and prevent 20 million metric tons of greenhouse gases from entering the atmosphere.
Yesterday's announcement follows on the heels of Wal-Mart changing its advertising slogan, to "Save Money. Live Better," from "Always Low Prices." The move, announced last week, is the first change in slogans in 19 years, and may reflect an added emphasis on the company's recent environmental initiatives.
The purchase of CFLs are picking up momentum as environmental awareness awakens energy concerns among shoppers. CFLs can result in an energy savings of 75 percent, as opposed to incandescent bulbs, and generally last from eight to 10 years, as compared to an average of one year for a conventional light bulb.
