Grayslake trustees mull allocation of free light bulbs

Grayslake trustees Tuesday night addressed how best to provide residents with the village's share of 500,000 compact fluorescent light bulbs that are being sent for free to 93 suburbs.

Suburbs became eligible for the newfangled, lower-energy bulbs by signing on to the Metropolitan Mayors Caucus' Greenest Regional Compact Project by the end of February. The suburbs are supposed to commit to helping the Chicago area become the most environmentally friendly in the United States.

Compact fluorescent bulbs use two-thirds less energy than conventional ones and have more life. However, the lamps contain mercury and must be disposed of properly.

At Tuesday night's informal committee meeting, the Grayslake village board members considered the best way to distribute 4,600 compact fluorescent bulbs to residents. Trustees agreed elementary school districts serving Grayslake might be appropriate, with the bulbs doubling as an educational tool for children.

Grayslake Mayor Timothy Perry said he supports compact fluorescent light bulbs.

"I've used these (bulbs) and they're pretty cool, no pun intended," Perry said.

David Bennett, executive director of the Metropolitan Mayors Caucus, said the 500,000 compact fluorescent bulbs the suburbs soon will receive for free are worth about $2.5 million. Grayslake would have paid $5 a pop or $23,000 for its 4,600 bulbs.

Other Lake County villages that will get free bulbs include Wauconda, Lake Zurich, Hainesville, Lincolnshire and Libertyville. Elsewhere in the suburbs, Schaumburg, Naperville, Arlington Heights, Roselle, Elgin, Lombard and Algonquin also are in line to receive the free bulbs.

Bennett said municipal festivals, village halls and local retailers are expected to be the popular ways to distribute the free bulbs. He said the program launched last year in Chicago.