LED Light Bulb Swaps are a Hit!

LED Bulb Swap at the Edgewood Farmers Market

We held two of our planned LED light bulb swaps this past weekend, at the Edgewood and Elkader Farmers Market. “We swapped 164 LED bulbs for energy hogging incandescent light bulbs in over 40 households. We feel like this is was a pretty good place to start,” says Joleen Jansen, Program Coordinator.  “We hope to stimulate an energy transformation.” The “Swap” events are opportunities to talk about energy efficiency. Jansen continues, “Everyone agrees they want to spend less money on their energy bills, and because LED lighting technology is 75% more efficient and lasts 25 times longer, its use easily reduces household energy cost.”
Reasonably priced LED lighting technology is available in major retail centers, but while available it has not been as reasonably priced in local Clayton County outlets. Over the summer the CCED facilitated a local option to purchase reasonably priced LED bulbs. The 60W equivalent, Energy Star rated Greenlite bulbs, distributed by the CCED, at the bulb swaps,  are now on sale at Norby’s Farm and Fleet in Elkader, for just .99/bulb.
The same lower priced bulbs have been available in bigger out of county box stores, but not available in local retail stores. The CCED networked with Norby’s headquarters. We informed Norby’s about the Iowa Be Bright program. This program is implemented by  Iowa utility companies.  The program uses Iowa Energy Efficiency Funds to buy down the cost of energy efficient LED bulbs at the retail level. This eliminates the complicated rebate process and delivers the savings directly to the consumer, at the cash register.
Norby’s recently went through the hoops to participate in the program and now Clayton County residents have a legitimate, affordable avenue for purchasing lower priced and much more efficient light bulbs. 

This win win scenario is exactly the kind of work the CCED hopes to achieve. Not only connecting energy consumers to  more energy efficient technologies, but also, to affordable local purchase options. This is good for the local economy and the environment.

CCED treasurer Elaine Funke talks to customer at the LED Swap.

Joleen Jansen with CCED board secretary, Dr Ken Zichal

Very Important Note: The CCED intends to host more around the county LED Swaps. At present, lack of funds are limiting the expansion of this project, if you are a fan of the non profit CCED’s work please consider supporting your local clean energy movement.