How many people does it take to screw in a light bulb?
In Langley, more than two dozen in a citywide effort to get folks serious about energy conservation.
Last month, 26 volunteers went door-to-door in their own neighborhood to convince homeowners to swap one regular incandescent lightbulb for an energy-efficient compact florescent light — the ones that look like a squiggly white worm.
In a partnership with Puget Sound Energy, the city’s Neighbor-to-Neighbor Porch Light Campaign had some specific goals in mind, according to resource conservation manager Linda Irvine.
“We gave away 500 PSE-donated bulbs in October and the Star Store sold
200 more,” she explained. “If those are used every day for a year, there will be a saving of 36,000 kilowatt hours.”
Since one home consumes
12,000 kilowatt hours annually, the community effort means that enough energy will be saved to power three Langley homes for years to come.
Ron and Gretchen Vollbrecht visited
20 homes in Langley and received a positive response.
“All but one of the folks we talked to were happy to swap their bulbs,” Gretchen Vollbrecht recalled. “It was good to meet the neighbors.”
Her comment demonstrates one of the Porch Light Campaign’s other key goals.
“The city is encouraging neighbors to get to know each other, part of the plan to increase community preparedness,” Irvine said. “And if at the same time we can cut the carbon footprint, that’s all to the good.”
The city has been pursuing conservation since an energy intern came on board in the summer of 2006, Irvine noted.
“We created a baseline carbon footprint for the city and community and created a plan to lower our carbon footprint,” she said. “Sustainability became a pillar of city planning in 2007 with the comprehensive plan revision.”
In 2008, Langley did an energy audit of all city buildings, made some upgrades and are planning for larger improvements with the HVAC system at city hall and the wastewater treatment plant.
“The Porch Light Campaign is the first community event, but we hope to do many more activities to help neighbors save energy and cut our carbon footprint,” Irvine said.
At a recent city council meeting, Mayor Paul Samuelson presented the volunteers with keys to the city.
Those who helped the Porch Light Campaign included: Glenn Ahuna, Mike and Debra Antetomaso, Leo Baldwin, Wayne Boddie, Phil Bomar, Fred Evander, Leslie Hoelting, Frank and Phoebe Jacques, Mary Jo McArdle, Peggy Moe, Don Rowan, Rhonda and Marena Salerno, Karen Samuelson, Charleen Sanders, Linda Schwarz, Erin Simms, Frank and Isaac Sullivan, Gretchen and Ron Vollbrecht, Michele Zisette and Washington State University climate stewards Bob Gentz, Enid Braun and Tessa Bevins.
