Duke Energy announced plans to distribute 10 million free compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) to eligible customers in 2011.

“As people across the globe plan to turn off their lights Saturday during Earth Hour, Duke Energy is encouraging customers to take that opportunity to swap their bulbs to CFLs,” said Gianna Manes, Duke Energy’s senior vice president of retail customer products and services.

In 2010, Duke Energy distributed more than 10 million free CFLs to approximately one million residential customers, saving enough energy to power nearly 45,000 homes.

The energy saved offsets the same amount of carbon dioxide emissions as is produced annually by 70,000 passenger vehicles. Duke Energy hopes to match these results in 2011.

CFLs use 75 percent less energy and last up to 10 times longer than standard light bulbs. Replacing a home’s six most frequently used incandescent bulbs with CFLs can save more than $180 over the lifetime of the bulbs.

“Duke Energy’s long-term efficiency and conservation vision is to encourage consumers to adopt more energy-conscious living habits,” said Manes. “Since lighting represents 10 percent to 15 percent of Duke Energy’s residential energy use, installing CFLs is an easy first step to saving energy and money.”

The company intends to meet a full 12 percent of customers’ electricity demand through energy efficiency by 2030.

Duke Energy residential customers in North Carolina, South Carolina and Ohio can request complimentary CFLs be delivered to their homes at www.duke-energy.com/freecflsnow using either their account number or phone number and the last four digits of their Social Security number. Customers may also call (800) 943-7585 and choose option one to request the bulbs.