blackEnergy, along with the Concerned Black Clergy, Georgia Interfaith Power & Light, the American Association of Blacks in Energy and presenting sponsor the ChicoBag Company distributed free energy-saving compact fluorescent lightbulbs (CFLs) during “Lightbulb Swap 2008,” an annual event developed to introduce a cost-effective way of “Going Green” to the African-American community. The event took place on Saturday, March 22, 2008 at True Light Baptist Church located at 47 Anderson Avenue NW, Atlanta, GA.

Volunteers visited homes and changed out incandescent lightbulbs for equivalent compact fluorescent lightbulbs (CFL). Consumers also stopped by True Light Baptist Church to exchange their bulbs and receive information on energy-saving tips they can try at home from Georgia Interfaith and the Georgia Conservancy’s Mothers & Others project. Each participant also received a ChicoBag, a reusable grocery bag that replaces plastic grocery bags. The day culminated with blackEnergy’s donation of four cases of compact fluorescent lightbulbs to Pastor Darrell D. Elligan, of True Light and President of Concerned Black Clergy, for distribution to Beulah Baptist Church and Mt. Gilead Baptist Church in Vine City. Both churches sustained damage during the tornado that struck downtown Atlanta last week.

The goal of the program was to educate consumers on the importance of saving energy and resources for the next generation. “By participating in the lightbulb exchange the African American community played an important role in conservation of precious non-renewable energy sources like oil and natural gas,” stated Sonja Ebron, CEO of blackEnergy. “It’s as easy as Each One, Change One!”

Using the new CFLs can make a big impact at home and for the planet. Lighting can make up 25% of the typical home’s energy budget. According to the U.S. government’s Energy Star program, by replacing just one traditional bulb, consumers can save about $30 or more in electricity costs over the bulb’s lifetime. To save the most energy and money, Energy Star suggests consumers replace their highest used lightbulbs with the new energy-efficient models. The five highest used fixtures in a home are typically the kitchen ceiling lights, the living or family room table and floor lamps, and outdoor porch or post lights. As a result, replacing five of these lightbulbs could save consumers as much as $150.

The savings to the environment are also significant. Energy Star qualified compact fluorescent bulbs use about 75 percent less energy than standard incandescent bulbs and last up to 10 times longer. Producing about 75 percent less heat, they’re safer to operate and can also cut energy costs associated with home cooling.

If every American home replaced just one incandescent light bulb with a CFL, the energy savings would be enough to light more than 3 million homes for a year, would save more than $600 million in annual energy costs, and prevent greenhouse gases equivalent to the emissions of more than 800,000 cars. For more information on saving energy with compact fluorescent bulbs, visit blackEnergy at www.blackenergy.com or Energy Star at www.energystar.gov.