Overview
The Northern Illinois Energy Project (NIEP) was created to provide a discount on Compact Fluorescent Light bulbs (CFLs) at several retail outlets. In partnership with the Midwest Energy Efficiency Alliance, the Residential Lighting Program was developed to increase the use of CFLs while raising consumer awareness on the features and benefits of these products.

CFLs were made available at discounted prices for a limited time. The Northern Illinois Energy Project offers a buy down of $0.98 per bulb to participating retailers throughout the state.  The program emphasizes educating consumers on the multiple benefits of high quality energy-efficient compact fluorescent light bulbs and increasing the market benefits of CFLs in non-traditional retail outlets such as grocery stores, drug stores, and multi-purpose stores.

Implementation
The NIEP program works with retail and manufacturer partners to provide discounted bulbs in local neighborhood stores to increase access to these energy and cost-saving products. The program will run for three years with two promotions per year, one each in the spring and fall. Promotions include market buy-down and markdown incentives and point-of-purchase materials that explain the energy, economic and environmental benefits of CFLs.

Summary of Results
In 2006, 636,922 CFLs were sold in this program. The first promotions were launched at Family Dollar, Food 4 Less, and Walgreens in the spring of 2006. The second series launched in the fall at Wal-Mart, Jewel Osco and Food 4 Less. We are currently negotiating a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for our third round in Dollar General, CVS, and Food 4 Less. Manufacturer and retailer partners are selected to participate through a competitive request for proposal (RFP) process.

Goals
Over the course of three years, 1.8 million CFLs will be sold as part of this promotion.