If Walmart's can sell more compact fluorescents, over 10 million to be exact by 008, then it will help save Americans $3 billion in electricity costs, and avoid the need to build powerplants for equivalent of 450,000 homes.
Wal-Mart Puts Some Muscle Behind Power-Sipping Bulbs - New York Times A compact fluorescent has clear advantages over the widely used incandescent light — it uses 75 percent less electricity, lasts 10 times longer, produces 450 pounds fewer greenhouse gases from power plants and saves consumers $30 over the life of each bulb. But it is eight times as expensive as a traditional bulb, gives off a harsher light and has a peculiar appearance.
As a result, the bulbs have languished on store shelves for a quarter century; only 6 percent of households use the bulbs today.