Atlanta Light Swap 2009

Atlanta Light Swap 2009: "Atlanta Light Swap 2009

Posted by Sonja Ebron

We gave away 700 bulbs last Sunday and expanded the event to serve three Black churches in metro Atlanta. See the press release below:

Saving Money One Light Bulb At A Time

2nd Annual Light Bulb Swap Helps Consumers Save Money Through Energy Conservation

April 26, 2009 (ATLANTA) – On Sunday, April 26, 2009, the Concerned Black Clergy of Metropolitan Atlanta, in partnership with blackEnergy and Georgia Interfaith Power & Light, distributed 700 compact fluorescent light bulbs in Metro Atlanta with a message of sustainable living during the 2nd Annual Light Bulb Swap. This free event was designed to introduce a cost effective way of “Going Green” to the African American community and in turn encourage them to be proactive in conserving energy and saving money.
After Service at True Light Baptist Church

After Service at True Light Baptist Church

According to Andrew Hoerner, researcher for the sustainability think tank Redefining Progress and the Environmental Justice and Climate Change Initiative, African Americans pay more of their incomes on home energy and heating expenses than other people. “Energy prices and policies have a disproportionate impact on our community,” said Rev. Darrell D. Elligan, president of Concerned Black Clergy. “It’s essential that religious organizations invest in informing the laity about opportunities to save energy and money while protecting our environment for our children.”

Consumers were asked to bring one standard 60-watt bulb to a participating church. There, they exchanged the bulb for a free 15-watt compact fluorescent light. Participating churches were: True Light Baptist Church (Atlanta), Ebenezer Baptist Church (Atlanta), and New Life Christian Church Intl. (Decatur).

The goal of the program was to educate consumers on the importance of saving energy and resources for the next generation and how doing so can help them save money. “We all have to do our best to start saving energy and treating the planet better,” stated Sonja Ebron, CEO of blackEnergy. “CFL bulbs are a great way to introduce energy efficiency to the average consumer because the benefits are so obvious.”

Using the new CFLs can make a big impact at home and for the planet. Lighting can make up 25% of the typical home’s energy budget. According to the U.S. government’s Energy Star program, by replacing just one traditional bulb, consumers can save $30 or more in electricity costs over the bulb’s lifetime.

To save the most energy and money, Energy Star suggests:

* Consumers replace their most highly used light bulbs with the new energy-efficient models.
* The five highest used fixtures in a home are typically the kitchen ceiling lights, the living or family room table and floor lamps, and outdoor porch or post lights.
* As a result, replacing five of these light bulbs could save consumers as much as $150.

The savings to the environment are also significant. Energy Star qualified compact fluorescent bulbs use about 75 % less energy than incandescent bulbs and last up to 10 times longer.

If every American home replaced just ONE incandescent light bulb with a CFL, it would be the equivalent of removing 7.5 million cars from our roads. The energy savings would be enough to light more than 3 million homes for a year and would save more than $600 million in annual energy costs. For more information on saving energy with compact fluorescent bulbs, visit the Energy Star website at www.energystar.gov.

For help in making their homes more energy efficient, consumers can contact their city and county energy offices and the State Energy Office (GEFA) to access funds from the $66 million in stimulus money that Georgia received for energy efficiency and weatherization. Money is available for home weatherization projects like adding insulation, replacing windows and purchasing energy-efficient appliances. The City of Atlanta received $6 million; $6 million went to DeKalb County, $5 million for Cobb County and $7 million for Gwinnett County.

About Concerned Black Clergy of Metropolitan Atlanta, Inc.
Established in 1982, CBC is the primary, proactive and principle-centered organization comprised mostly of African-American ministers and laity. Our mission is to provide leadership, advocacy and service to the homeless, helpless and hopeless in our community. For more information, visit www.concernedblackclergy.org.

About blackEnergy
blackEnergy is a national distributor of energy conservation products and an organizer of energy buying groups that help people use their utility bills to support Black communities. For more information, visit www.blackenergy.com.

About Georgia Interfaith Power & Light
Georgia Interfaith Power & Light engages communities of faith in stewardship of God’s Creation as a direct reflection of our faithfulness through worship, education, and the sustainable generation and efficient use of energy. GIPL is a program of the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting the clean generation of energy. For more information, visit www.gipl.org."


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