Project Porchlight Blog

The Gayatri Chetna Center in Piscataway, New Jersey, is devoted to increasing cultural, ethical, moral, and spiritual awareness. The center’s foremost goal is the development of divine qualities in mankind, and Gayatri Chetna’s offerings include yoga, meditation, and youth development aimed at encouraging “Simple Living and High Thinking.”

On August 29, Gayatri Chetna celebrated its one-year anniversary with traditional ceremonies and activities. It was a wonderful day for the community, and Project Porhchlight joined the festivities to educate folks about the energy savings offered by compact fluorescent light (CFL) bulbs as well as the energy efficiency programs that are available through New Jersey’s Clean Energy Program (NJCEP).

A total of 719 CFL bulbs were distributed at the celebration, part of Project Porchlight New Jersey’s campaign to distribute energy-efficient light bulbs to residents across the state. Project Porchlight is an initiative of One Change, and the campaign is made possible thanks to funding by the state Board of Public Utilities (BPU) and the NJCEP.

“It was a great day,” says Paresh Trivedi, a frequent Project Porchlight volunteer who was thrilled to distribute so many CFL bulbs at the center. “It was wonderful to see the happiness on the faces of the people as they were becoming educated about all the ways they can conserve energy, starting with the CFL bulbs.”

CFL bulbs use up to 75 percent less energy than old-fashioned incandescent bulbs. Choosing CFL bulbs means lower costs, reduced demand for electricity, and, ultimately, less pollution.

“Project Porchlight is a great program,” says Paresh. “When you tell people to switch to CFL bulbs, that doesn’t necessarily help them change. But when you tell people to switch to CFL bulbs and you actually give them one to try, that really makes a difference.”

When it comes to protecting our environment, simple actions really do matter! Even something as simple as changing a light bulb can make a difference. By connecting with state residents one at a time, Project Porchlight is empowering people of all backgrounds to make smart, energy-efficient choices that protect the environment.

“Project Porchlight gives people this CFL bulb and once they start using it, they will save ninety cents each month in their bill,” says Paresh. “After they see that, they realize what will potentially happen if they change all of their bulbs, and they begin to think about other changes they can make. So all together, the impact of the CFL bulb distribution is tremendous.”