Dec. 7, 2006 — If all of the V.I. Water and Power Authority's customers swapped out one of their old incandescent bulbs for an energy-saving compact fluorescent bulb, the potential total savings to all customers at todays WAPA rates would be $7 million over the life of the bulbs, according to a WAPA release Thursday.
With that in mind, WAPA is starting its territorywide Energy Star Change a Light, Change the World campaign on Saturday, Dec. 9.
According to WAPA Executive Director Alberto Bruno-Vega, this event is part of a national call to action from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy to encourage individuals to help change the world — one light at a time. The national "Change a Light" campaign is in its seventh year.
On Saturday, customers, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., can present their most recent WAPA bill and an old incandescent bulb in order to receive a free compact fluorescent bulb, known as a CFL. The "Change a Light" events will take place on St. Croix at Sunny Isle Shopping Center adjacent to Wendys, on St. John at the bandstand in Cruz Bay and on St. Thomas at the Tutu Park Mall Parking Lot.
WAPA has invested almost $100,000 from a Demand Side Management Fund to purchase 60,000 Energy Star-rated CFLs for distribution. WAPA is providing customers with the bulbs as an incentive to change out more bulbs to save money on their energy bills. Compact fluorescent light bulbs use up to 75 percent less energy than standard incandescent light bulbs, while producing the same amount of light with less heat. Using less energy reduces each customers LEAC or fuel costs, as well as benefiting the environment.
According to Bruno-Vega, WAPA is tackling the high cost of energy in the territory from both the supply side and the demand side. The Change a Light campaign is just part of WAPAs bigger strategic picture known as our Integrated Resource Plan, he said.
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