Lighten-up events bring energy efficiency to Gainesville

November 8, 2007

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — The University of Florida’s Office of Sustainability is joining forces with Gainesville Regional Utilities and International Carbon Bank & Exchange, this weekend to get 5,000 compact fluorescent light bulbs into the hands of GRU customers.

The first 1,000 people who come to the GRU booth at the Downtown Festival & Art Show will receive a free compact fluorescent light bulb, or CFL. The booth will be next to the Hippodrome State Theater, and the light bulb giveaway will begin at 10 a.m.“A CFL uses one-fifth of the energy of an incandescent bulb and lasts twelve times as long. These 5,000 bulbs will save the community from releasing 4,500 tons of CO2 into the atmosphere as well as $200,000 in utility costs over the lifetime of the bulbs,” said Dedee DeLongpré -Johnston, director of UF’s Office of Sustainability.

Three Publix locations also will offer light bulb trade-in events on Saturday, starting at 10 am and running until supplies run out. Customers can exchange incandescent bulbs for new CFLs for 75 cents a bulb or purchase new bulbs, without a trade-in, for $1 a piece. Customers will be limited to trading in and/or purchasing 30 bulbs a piece. Participating locations include Publix stores at Hunter’s Crossing, Jonesville and Haile Plantation.

Proceeds from the sale of CFLs will be re-invested in 1,000 bulbs for the Trinity United Methodist Church Thanksgiving basket program. One thousand low-income families will receive a basket, which will include a CFL this year. Organizers estimate the program will save tthose families an additional combined $40,000 in utility costs over the life of the bulbs.