NEWS RELEASE
For Immediate Release
March 13, 2012
CONTACT: Catharine Lo, 808-954-6141

Blue Planet kicks off Big Island Bulb BlitZ

Community groups, local clubs, and athletic teams invited to raise money by swapping CFLs

Over the next two months, Blue Planet Foundation aims to replace 25,000 inefficient incandescent light bulbs with energy-saving CFLs. To help distribute the CFLs, Blue Planet is inviting Hawai‘i Island schools, community groups, social clubs, religious organizations, and athletic teams to participate in the Big Island Bulb Blitz. The Blitz is funded by Hawaii Energy, the conservation and efficiency program for Hawai‘i, Honolulu and Maui counties.
 
Applying its signature (C)onserve (F)undraise (L)earn program, Blue Planet will supply qualifying groups with up to 1,000 free CFLs at a time. Each group decides how it will conduct the bulb exchanges. After turning in the appropriate documentation, Blue Planet will pay the group $0.50 for each bulb swapped. This program is FREE and offered as a service to help residents learn about energy efficiency and reduce their household consumption. Blue Planet wants to reward groups that are helping to end the state’s dependence on imported oil.
 
C.F.L.s are 75 percent more efficient than old-style incandescent bulbs. By replacing 25,000 old bulbs with energy-saving CFLs, Hawai‘i Island residents will save $4.8 million* over the bulbs’ lifetimes and prevent 18 million pounds of carbon pollution.
 
Interested parties can call (808) 954-6161 for more information. Applications must be submitted online by Mar. 30, and group representatives will be required to attend an orientation.
 
The Big Island Bulb Blitz is one of the outreach events funded by Hawaii Energy, to kick off their current “3 CFL Challenge”, which urges residents to replace three old bulbs with three CFLs and tell three others to do the same.
 
To learn more, visit blueplanetfoundation.org or HawaiiEnergy.com/3CFLs.
 
*Based on 8,000-hour bulb lifetime and Hawai‘i Island electricity rate of $0.43/kWh
 

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