On Saturday, June 25, 2016, New Haven residents were invited to participate in the Great Light Bulb Exchange. This event, hosted by the Energize Connecticut initiative in partnership with The United Illuminating Company’s (UI) Clean Energy Communities program, encouraged residents to take control of their energy future.
Held at the C-Town Supermarket on Ferry Street, the Great Light Bulb Exchange gave individuals the opportunity to receive two free 60-watt equivalent Light Emitting Diode (LED) light bulbs in exchange for two old incandescent bulbs. In addition to the LED light bulbs, residents were given energy efficiency tips and information on various energy-saving programs including UI’s Smart Room Air Conditioning (A/C) program which allows users to control their A/C from anywhere using a phone, tablet or computer. Attendees also had the opportunity to purchase additional ENERGY STAR® certified LED bulbs from C-Town on the day of the event.
Mayor Toni Harp and the New Haven Youth Conservation Corps are strong advocates for this citywide initiative aimed at reducing energy consumption. As of July 7, teens from the Conservation Corps will spend the summer canvassing homes throughout New Haven. They will be promoting the importance of adopting a more energy conscious lifestyle by taking advantage of the Energize Connecticut Initiative’s Home Energy Solutions- Income Eligible (HES-IE) assessments. HES-IE is a no-cost weatherization program designed to create more energy-efficient and comfortable homes while lowering energy costs, and changing over to LED bulbs is a significant portion of these assessments.
During the Great Light Bulb Exchange, more than 150 households were represented resulting in the distribution of more than 300 LED light bulbs. Residents save roughly $230 over the lifetime of each LED resulting in a nearly $87,000 savings for the city, or about $3,700 per year. New Haven will also save 19,043 kilowatt-hours (kWh) each year.
“We are elated to see that more than 150 homes have now begun, or continued, their commitment to energy efficiency and will begin to witness immediate impacts on their energy bills,” said Marissa Westbrook, manager of residential energy services, The United Illuminating Company. “Installing LEDs is just the first step and we are hopeful that this event will serve as a catalyst for these residents to become more conscious of their energy consumption.”
One LED light bulb can last up to 25 times longer and uses about 90 percent less electricity than an old-fashioned incandescent. Residents who made the switch to LEDs from traditional incandescent light bulbs will see these savings immediately.
About Energize Connecticut:
Energize Connecticut helps you save money and use clean energy. It is an initiative of the Energy Efficiency Fund, the Connecticut Green Bank, the State, and your local electric and gas utilities, with funding from a charge on customer energy bills. Information on energy-saving programs can be found at energizect.com or by calling 1.877.WISE.USE.
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