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Before 10 a.m. Friday morning, it was 15 down and 6,085 to go.

Homer Electric Association's "Kick in-Can" program aims to put 7,000 compact fluorescent bulbs in its members' hands in exchange for incandescent bulbs.

For as long as supplies last, anyone can bring five incandescent bulbs to one of the many social service agencies partnering with HEA on the program and receive five energy-efficient CFL bulbs for free, HEA spokesman Joe Gallagher said.

At the Kenai Peninsula Food Bank in Soldotna, one the participating agencies, three exchanges were made before 10 a.m., according to manager Linda Swarner.

"People are lined up and ready," she said.

Alto Lee Dunn, a food bank employee, was one of the people to upgrade her light bulbs.

"It's supposed to make my electric bill go down, down, down," Dunn said of switching to fluorescent.

In addition to the Kenai food bank and the HEA offices, bulb exchanges can be made at Salvation Army stores, Homer Food Pantry, Ninilchik Traditional Council, Seldovia Village Tribe, Port Graham Village Council and Nanwalek IRA Council.

Florescent bulbs, though more expensive than incandescent, are also much more energy efficient and cost-saving in the long run.

According to the Energy Star's Web site, a compact fluorescent light bulb will save about $30 over its lifetime and pay for itself in about six months. CFLs use 75 percent less energy and last about 10 times longer than an incandescent bulb.

Saving energy is HEA's motivation in the Kick in-Can program, Gallagher said, and the program is part of the company's ongoing effort to encourage its members to be more energy-conscious.

"We've got 7,000 bulbs, and if people put them in their homes they should save money and energy," Gallagher said. "CFL bulbs are a pretty simple way to change how to do things, and we thought that's something we at Homer Electric could do."

The program will continue until the 7,000 bulbs are gone. As for the exchanged incandescent bulbs?

"They're collected at repositories and we'll take care of the disposal," Gallagher said.

Reporter Andrew Waite can be reached at andrew.waite@peninsulaclarion.com.