The 10th annual Fanwood Street Fair and Crafts Show on June 7 in Fanwood, New Jersey, featured 50 crafters and artists as well as live music and boardwalk-style rides and games for children. Project Porchlight was also on hand to educate fairgoers about the energy savings offered by compact fluorescent light (CFL) bulbs.

“Everyone was very enthusiastic,” says Project Porchlight field representative Tim Tuite (pictured right). “This was very much a family-oriented event, so there were a lot of parents pushing strollers. They were happy to learn about CFL bulbs and sign our pledge sheets, and they promised to purchase more CFLs in the future. We definitely are making people more aware of conserving energy.”

A total of 400 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 [1], and the campaign is made possible thanks to funding by the state Board of Public Utilities (BPU) [2] and New Jersey’s Clean Energy Program (NJCEP) [3].

When it comes to protecting our environment, simple actions matter. Even something as simple as changing a light bulb is important. “Energy consumption isn’t always in the front of everyone’s mind,” says Tim. “A lot of people go home, and flip on lights and turn on appliances, and don’t think twice about it. For people who are learning about these bulbs for the first time, Project Porchlight helps them realize how simple actions around the house can really affect their energy consumption.

“We’ve only got one world, one environment,” adds Tim. “We’re getting to the point where it’s now or never. If we don’t start making real changes now, it could be too late and future generations won’t be able to enjoy the healthy environment that previous generations have been able to enjoy.”