A local foundation is undertaking an ambitious project that could save $14 million for island residents.
By now we have all heard about the energy efficiency of the CFL light bulbs. Now, schools and other organizations have a chance to expand the reach of those bulbs – and at the same time, earn some funds. It’s called the 100,000 Better Bulbs Blitz.
"Better bulbs meaning, we’re talking about the CFL light bulb which is 75 percent more energy efficient and lasts ten times as long as the old style incandescent light bulb," says David Aquino of the Blue Planet Foundation.
That’s why the Blue Planet Foundation is engaging schools and school groups to ask friends and neighbors to exchange CFL’s for their incandescent bulbs.
"The way to engage the community is through the students, through the schools, through the community groups. So far participating we have about 50 groups, 35 of those schools so really working through the schools to get the message out to the community but also to exchange the light bulbs in the community," Aquino says.
Do the students go door to door? Hold an event at a mall or a farmers market? It’s up to the group – but it can be profitable.
"The fund raising portion actually comes through – for every light bulb they’re able to exchange, for every old style light incandescent for every energy saving CFL they’re going to raise forty cents for their group," Aquino says.
As you might imagine, that can add up – not just for the group doing the fundraising, but for the community as a whole.
"If by exchanging those 100,000 light bulbs in the month of October, there’s going to be a number of different benefits for Hawaii. We’re going to see about $14 million in energy savings over the lifetime of the bulbs," Aquino says.
Hawaii is 95 percent dependent on imported oil for its energy. This move along could save 81,000 barrels of oil. Aquino says it all begins with small steps.
"Every little light bulb that we exchange, every little measure that we take to reduce the amount of electricity, the amount of gasoline that we use really is going to benefit Hawaii and reduce the amount of fossil fuels that we import to the islands," he says.
For more information visit blueplanetfoundation.org.
See the original article at: KHON2 Local News
