2008 Year in Review

Northside and Southside Shed Light on Saving the Planet

The Illinois Go Green committee shed light on the issue of global warming in September 2008, by challenging 2,500 elementary schools across the state to change as many regular light bulbs in the homes as possible, and to replace them with energy efficient light bulbs.

Students were asked to bring empty light containers from energy efficient light bulbs to school by Friday, December 5, 2008. Bulbs were counted and tallied by the school, with final totals submitted to the Illinois Go Green committee on Monday, December 8th.

Northside and Southside Elementary Schools in Morrison overwhelmingly rose to the committee’s challenge. Students at Northside Elementary School (preschool through second grade) replaced a total of 74 bulbs, while students at Southside Elementary School (third through fifth grade) changed a total of 93 bulbs. The schools’ combined efforts resulted in a total of 167 new, energy efficient bulbs installed across Morrison, Illinois.

Parents, children, and community members alike were excited by the opportunity to participate in this effort to halt global warming, to conserve money and energy, as well as to save our planet.

Although the contest has concluded, the “Illinois Go Green” committee encourages families to continue the charge to replace regular light bulbs with energy efficient bulbs. Consider the following:

- Energy efficient bulbs use about 75 percent less energy than standard incandescent bulbs and last up to 10 times longer.
- By using energy efficient bulbs, you may save about $30 or more in electricity costs over each bulb's lifetime.
- Energy efficient bulbs produce about 75 percent less heat, so they're safer to operate and can cut energy costs associated with home cooling.
- If every home in Illinois changed just three light bulbs, it would be like taking almost 2 million cars off the road.

For more information on this program, energy efficient light bulbs, or other ways your family can help the environment, please visit: Illinois Go Green.

by  Editor, theCity1.com
December 8, 2008