Project Porchlight’s Egg Harbor City Blitz on June 13 in Egg Harbor City, New Jersey, was particularly exciting thanks to the number of young people who turned out to help distribute energy-saving compact fluorescent light (CFL) bulbs throughout the city.

A total of 693 CFL bulbs were handed out, part of Project Porchlight New Jersey’s campaign to distribute one million free energy-efficient light bulbs to residents across the state. Project Porchlight is an initiative of One Change, and the campaign is made possible thanks to funding by the state Board of Public Utilities (BPU) and New Jersey’s Clean Energy Program (NJCEP).

“Egg Harbor City is in the process of trying to become a sustainable community,” says resident Nanette Galloway, who helped organize the bulb distribution. “Having Project Porchlight here is a good way to introduce the community to becoming sustainable. I have these bulbs all over the house, and my electric bill went down a lot. So I want to educate other people about them, and also about how they need to be recycled, which I think is really important.

“Plus, we have a ton of porches, so it would make sense to have Project Porchlight here,” adds Nanette.

Brian Howard, the Youth Director of Ignite Ministry, a local youth center, brought more than 20 teenagers to volunteer for the CFL bulb distribution. “It went really well,” says Brian. “We all had a really good time. And every time you get teens involved in something, they get a deeper sense of community and take ownership of it.”

Brian points out that young people are the future of any conservation efforts. “If you can plant a seed in this generation about conservation and green living, and if you can get this idea and thought planted early, this is where we start,” he says. “These kids are going to make the changes that need to be made, and the next generation will go from there.”

When it comes to protecting our environment, simple actions matter. Even something as simple as changing a light bulb is important. “That’s how you get something started, by getting used to doing little things,” says Nanette. “I remember years ago when they first introduced recycling, it seemed difficult. But you just get used to it, and it just becomes part of your life.

“Simple actions do matter,” adds Nanette. “In the long run, if everybody would just do a little bit, that’s how we will save the environment. That’s how you eat elephant, one bite at a time.”