2019-2020 campaign
Brighten Up Caroline is a project taking place in the Town of Caroline, in upstate New York. It has several aspects, one of which is aimed at reducing home energy use among its 1550 households. It follows up on a successful project in 2009, "Lighten Up Caroline," which encouraged many residents to convert from incandescent light bulbs to compact flourescent (CFL) light bulbs.
Ten years later, the technology has improved remarkably. LED light bulbs are a few watts more efficient than CFLs, but they have other major advantages: they do not contain toxic gases and they turn on to full brightness immediately, without any warm-up time. The price of LEDs has fallen dramatically, while the assortment has expanded to the point where one can find an LED in nearly every shape and size.
Brighten Up Caroline, thanks to financial support from the Town of Caroline and the New York State Energy and Research Development Agency (NYSERDA), planned in 2019 to distribute up to 12 free LED light bulbs to every household in the community, over a period of several months. Because of the pandemic, this distribution process will take longer, but the goal remains the same.
Residents will receive their light bulbs in hand-sewn, reusable cloth bags, made by other residents and nearby friends. The bags also contain useful literature and advice on other ways to make one's home more energy efficient. Residents are being referred to Cornell Cooperative Extension's "Energy Navigator" program for assistance in finding the most cost-effective solutions for their own situations. Energy Navigators point anyone who would benefit from a heating upgrade to HeatSmart Tompkins. All residents are encouraged to sign up for free Energy Audits.
On this website, there is information oriented towards:
* Residents (when will someone be coming to my door? Where can I go myself to pick up my bag? Where can I follow up on the material from the flyers?)
* Volunteers (how can I participate and help this program reach the maximum number of residents?)
* Past and future Partners (how can I apply for similar grants and create a similar program in my own community?)
* Taxpayers (what are the non-residential aspects of this program? how much money will the Town of Caroline save?)
Ten years later, the technology has improved remarkably. LED light bulbs are a few watts more efficient than CFLs, but they have other major advantages: they do not contain toxic gases and they turn on to full brightness immediately, without any warm-up time. The price of LEDs has fallen dramatically, while the assortment has expanded to the point where one can find an LED in nearly every shape and size.
Brighten Up Caroline, thanks to financial support from the Town of Caroline and the New York State Energy and Research Development Agency (NYSERDA), planned in 2019 to distribute up to 12 free LED light bulbs to every household in the community, over a period of several months. Because of the pandemic, this distribution process will take longer, but the goal remains the same.
Residents will receive their light bulbs in hand-sewn, reusable cloth bags, made by other residents and nearby friends. The bags also contain useful literature and advice on other ways to make one's home more energy efficient. Residents are being referred to Cornell Cooperative Extension's "Energy Navigator" program for assistance in finding the most cost-effective solutions for their own situations. Energy Navigators point anyone who would benefit from a heating upgrade to HeatSmart Tompkins. All residents are encouraged to sign up for free Energy Audits.
On this website, there is information oriented towards:
* Residents (when will someone be coming to my door? Where can I go myself to pick up my bag? Where can I follow up on the material from the flyers?)
* Volunteers (how can I participate and help this program reach the maximum number of residents?)
* Past and future Partners (how can I apply for similar grants and create a similar program in my own community?)
* Taxpayers (what are the non-residential aspects of this program? how much money will the Town of Caroline save?)