New Jersey, the Garden State, is often mocked for having one of the greatest urban litter problems in the country. But recent reports indicate New Jerseyans are doing their share in ecological conservation; the board of public utilities was happy to announce the state has reached a 10 million CFL milestone.

As part of New Jersey's clean energy program, more than 10 million compact fluorescent light bulbs have been distributed state wide. By switching from incandescent bulbs to CFLs, New Jersey is reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 820 million pounds per year - the environmental equivalent of emissions from 70,238 cars annually.

Jeanne M. Fox, president of the state's board of utilities, hopes state residents will consider changing all of the bulbs in their homes. "We all can and should take this simple step to reduce our carbon footprint," she says.

The CFL switches partially fulfill the Energy Master Plan laid out by Governor Corzine, which aims to reduce the growth of NJ's energy use by 20 percent and increase renewable energy use by 30 percent by 2020. In accordance with the plan, the Green New Jersey Resource Team educates residents about how energy saving light bulbs can reduce bills and protect the environment.

NJ is one of many states working to raise awareness about energy efficient lighting solutions, with organizations in Maryland, Virginia, and Texas also making notable efforts to get local businesses and residents to switch to CFLs.