Change-A-Light a Big Success Once Again

3/7/08

By Kurt Heinchon
Critic Columnist

Congratulations to the Commuters in winning the LSC Change-A-Light Challenge. As a whole, the Commuters changed out 90 standard light bulbs for the energy saving compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFL’s).

That is equivalent to saving 11,127 pounds of coal and preventing 39,897 pounds of CO2 from getting into our atmosphere. Not to mention, it will also help shave off nearly $700 off of their electric bill over the lives of the bulbs.

For their efforts, they will be having a Vermont native tree planted in their honor in Stonehenge accompanied by a plaque with their name and winning results engraved on it. This will be done as soon as the ground is thawed enough to start digging.

Congratulations also to the Change-A-Light Challenge Residence Hall suite winners, Whitelaw 701. They exchanged an astonishing 27 bulbs which will help save 5,007 pounds of coal and prevent 17,954 pounds of CO2 from getting into our atmosphere. For their efforts, the entire suite will all receive a free game of bowling at the Gold Crown Lanes courtesy of the Advisory Committee on Sustainability.

In total, the Change-A-Light Campaign helped LSC exchange a total of 360 bulbs. That is equivalent to saving 66,760 pounds of coal and preventing a whopping 239,380 pounds of CO2 from getting into our atmosphere. As a side note, LSC will also be saving $6,810 over the lifetime of the bulbs. Not too shabby from doing something as simple as changing a light bulb.

Please be advised that the CFL’s do contain a trace amount of mercury. But not to worry there is no where near enough in those bulbs to hurt anyone. However, mercury is a hazardous waste and should be disposed of properly. That is why I am asking for everyone to follow the CFL disposal instructions that will be put into every suite on campus. If you live off campus please visit www.newbulbintown.com/about/mercuryInfo.aspx to view how you can properly dispose of a broken or burned out CFL. Please do NOT throw away your CFL bulb.

I would like to extend my thanks to the Vermont Energy Education Program (VEEP) and Efficiency Vermont for providing the use of their light bike and the education that it brought to the community.

Also, thanks to all the volunteers that helped to make the Change-A-Light Campaign the success that it was! It was very nice to see that people were already using CFL’s or saved theirs from last years campaign. Of course, thank you to the entire LSC campus for being so cooperative and open minded to small changes in your lives. Doing the little things like changing a light bulb or turning off a light or the computer that you don’t use at night really does go a long way.

Many people had questions and concerns about light fixtures different types of CFL bulbs. The ones that were part of the campaign were only the standard CFL. There are many other styles and wattages that can be found by visiting Efficiency Vermont’s website at www.newbulbintown.com/bulbs/.