LIHU‘E — Kaua‘i residents can take advantage of community Compact Fluorescent Lamp exchanges throughout the island during the month of September, states a Blue Planet Foundation press release. Kaua‘i Mini Golf, the Menehune Food Marts, Subway Sandwich in ‘Ele‘ele, and
LIHU‘E — Kaua‘i residents can take advantage of community Compact Fluorescent Lamp exchanges throughout the island during the month of September, states a Blue Planet Foundation press release.
Kaua‘i Mini Golf, the Menehune Food Marts, Subway Sandwich in ‘Ele‘ele, and the Shell gas station in Kapa‘a will host community CFL exchanges at eight locations across the island offering residents the opportunity to swap their old, incandescent bulbs for free, energy-saving CFLs.
CFLs use 75 percent less energy than conventional light bulbs which result in participating residents reducing their energy consumption with resulting lower electricity bills, the release states.
“We are really excited to have these local businesses who are eager to give back to their community on board,” said Ivory McClintock, a Kaua‘i native and program specialist with the foundation. “Partnerships like this, between business, non-profit and cooperatives, are crucial to making things happen.”
The CFLs are being supplied by the Kaua‘i Energy Efficient Project, a partnership between the foundation and the Kaua‘i Island Utility Cooperative which introduces residents to the benefits of energy efficiency.
“I am confident out community has the power to come together to make energy independence on Kaua‘i a reality,” McClintock said.
If every home on Kaua‘i replaced two incandescent bulbs with CFLs, residents would collectively save $8.1 million over the life of the bulbs while displacing 26,000 barrels of oil and 17,000 tons of carbon pollution, McClintock said.
“We are very grateful to have this opportunity to make a positive impact in our community,” said Rep. Derek Kawakami, D-14th District. “Without the leadership of people like Henk Rogers and McClintock of the Blue Planet Foundation and KIUC, embarking on such a mission would be a daunting task. This is a great example of organizations coming together for the betterment of our people and the communities we serve.”
McClintock said supplies of CFLs have already been received by the staff at the Kaua‘i Mini Golf in Kilauea.
Other locations where CFLs can be exchanged include the Kilauea Menehune Food Mart and Subway, Kilauea Shell gas station, Kapahi Menehune Food Mart, Kapa‘a Shell gas station, Lawa‘i Menehune Food Mart, Kekaha Menehune Food Mart and the Subway Sandwiches at the ‘Ele‘ele Shopping Center.
McClintock said KEEP will invite school and sports groups to host CFL exchanges which double as fundraisers during October and November.
Groups will be paid 40 cents for each bulb they replace as a reward for educating others about energy efficiency and reducing Hawai‘i’s dependence on foreign oil.
Blue Planet’s goal during October, National Energy Awareness Month, is to replace 100,000 incandescent bulbs and as an incentive to participating groups, schools will compete to swap the greatest number of total bulbs for a bonus $1,000 prize, states the Blue Planet newsletter.
Interested groups should register by Sept. 15.
Visit www.greenkauai.org for more information.
• Dennis Fujimoto, photographer and staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 253) or dfujimoto@ thegardenisland.com.
