Light Bulb Exchange Events
A lot has changed in the lighting industry since the late 19th century when Thomas
Edison invented the means to conduct light electrically through a bulb. Through decades of technological advances, the world at large is in a position today to gradually phase out incandescent, standard light bulbs and adopt new, more energy efficient means of lighting their environments. New sources of light from compact florescent light (CFL) bulbs and light emitting diode (LED) light sources save energy and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, making them good for the environment. However, many people have large supplies of standard light bulbs on hand or simply do not wish to pay the extra pennies for these new light bulbs. Because of that, several groups are spearheading ligth bulb exchange events, including:
1. Gas and Electric companies
2. Universities
3. Community Advocacy Groups in Cities
Gas and Electric Companies
The Gas and Electric Company of San Diego, one of the largest cities in California situated on the southern coast of the state, has been a front runner in the efforts to phase out incandescent bulbs for LED or CFL lighting sources. Over the holiday season of 2009, the company encouraged all residential customers to help conserve energy by participating in several LED exchange events. Residents were urged to bring up to three incandescent, standard strands of holiday lights to exchange for three, free energy efficient strands of LED holiday lights. San Diego Gas and Electric company reminded participants that LED holiday lights use up to 90% less energy and create almost no heat, therefore reducing the risk of fire. Fires caused by holiday lights make up a large percentage of annual fires.
San Diego Gas and Electric company also sponsored three light bulb exchange events during the spring and summer of 2009 at the Birch Aquarium. Customers were encouraged to trade in up to five incandescent light bulbs for new, energy efficient CFL light bulbs. An added incentive was that anyone who did so also received buy one, get one free same day admission to the aquarium. Customers were also asked to bring in expired CFL bulbs for proper disposal, since California law prohibits regular trash disposal of these bulbs.
In Washington state, Puget Sound Energy kicked off a four-month long campaign in the summer of 2009 called the "Rock the Bulb Tour." The Tour distributed 400,000 energy efficient CFL bulbs to PSE customers through sixteen bulb exchange events taking place at local hardware stores. They also partnered with nonprofit Project Porchlight and went door to door with CFL light bulbs, and hosted community events in the local service area. By teaming up with other organizations that deal with the distribution of light bulbs, such as Project Porchlight, PSE was able to generate an even wider reach for their message of energy efficiency.
In the tiny skiing hamlet of Kelowna, in British Columbia, Canada, FortisBC electric company challenged residents to replace 20,000 traditional incandescent light bulbs in 20 days with new CFL bulbs in October of 2009. The challenge came as part of PowerSense Month. Residents were invited to bring up to six standard light bulbs to a shopping center for exchange.
Universities
Universities are getting in on the act, too. Many schools engage in dorm vs. dorm sustainability challenges to help students learn how to live in a more energy efficient environment. Over the past several years, Duke University hosted a large light bulb exchange event to kick off their challenge, dubbed the Eco Olympics.
The University provided close to 900 CFL bulbs to incoming freshmen each year in exchange for the less effecient incandescent bulbs that many of the new students arrive with for their lamps and light fixtures.
In the spring of 2008, law students at Columbia University celebrated Earth Day by leading students, faculty and staff members in exchanging close to 50,000 traditional incandescent light bulbs with CFL bulbs to use in their desk lamps, dorm rooms and apartments. The initiative was part of the Student Light Bulb Brigade, a group that actively works to reduce the carbon footprint of the Columbia University community.
In the fall of 2009, Yale University's Light 4 Light program, a project of the Yale Student Taskforce for Environmental Partnership, worked to exchange CFL bulbs for 60 watt standard light bulbs across the campus. Around 2,000 CFLs were distributed to students door to door by the time the semester had ended.
City-wide Outreach through Community Advocacy Groups
Some cities are hosting light bulb exchanges as part of other environmentally friendly events. In the fall of 2009, the city of Longview, Texas hosted a citywide cleanup day that included tire recycling and a light bulb exchange for the residents. Although it was the first year for the light bulb exchange, there was a great turnout thanks to the city's longstanding tradition of clean up days and litter reduction. Piggy backing efforts together like this is a great way to increase awareness of light bulb exchange events in communities.
In Cambridge, Massachusetts, volunteer community members traveled the Riverside neighborhood over the summer of 2009 distributing free CFL bulbs to hundreds of homes. The event was organized by the Cambridge Energy Alliance and the Home Energy Efficiency Team. The group educated Cambridge residents about how energy efficient CFLs are not only good for the earth, they are good for their pockets. The lower energy emissions results in a savings for homeowners on their electric bill. The CFL bulbs were donated by TCP, Inc.
In the city of Painesville, Ohio, Fall Fest 2009 featured a light bulb exchange. 379 traditional, incandescent light bubs were turned in for new CFL bulbs in the participant's choice of 60, 75 or 100 watt. And in North Miami, the fall of 2009 was a time for change as the city became active in Energy Stars Change a Light Pledge. The city promises to exchange 1,500 incandescent light bulbs with CFL bulbs in the Change a Light Bulb Campaign. The city approximates that residents electricity bills will be decreased approximately thirty dollars per year per light bulb.
In conclusion, as the phasing out of traditional light bulbs continue, light bulb exchange events will become more and more commonplace thanks to the efforts of groups and organizations like the ones above leading the way into a more energy efficient future.
Read information about
disposing of light bulbs and
used book exchanges.
by: Atte Aaltonen
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