Project Porchlight Blog

Even during the Halloween season, there are few things scarier than wasting energy. So it was a good thing that Project Porchlight was on hand for the fourth annual Halloween in the Park on October 25 in Voorhees, New Jersey. The wonderful family event featured a kids’ costume parade, pumpkin picking and decorating, hayrides, and Halloween safety demonstrations presented by the township’s police department.

Project Porchlight was there to educate folks about energy efficiency and the energy savings offered by compact fluorescent light (CFL) bulbs. A total of 450 CFL bulbs were distributed, 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 New Jersey’s Clean Energy Program (NJCEP).

Voorhees Mayor Michael R. Mignogna was thrilled to have Project Porchlight at the event. “The presence of Project Porchlight at our recent Halloween in the Park engaged and educated our residents about energy conservation,” he says. “They learned by simply switching to more efficient light bulbs or installing water-saving showerheads, everyone benefits. Project Porchlight's distribution of energy-efficient light bulbs makes an immediate impact.”

The presence of Project Porchlight also resulted in some moments of outsized fun. At one point in the afternoon, Project Porchlight Volunteer and Outreach Coordinator Suzy Sherbine--dressed in a swirly white (and silver–topped!) CFL bulb costume--danced on the stage. As she moved to the “Macarena,” dozens of children joined her on stage to wiggle and shake. “I saw this as an opportunity,” says Suzy. “The children all wanted to know what costume I was wearing, and this was a fun way to introduce them to CFL bulbs.”

All that fun served to get Project Porchlight’s message across: When it comes to protecting our environment, simple actions matter. Even something as simple as changing a light bulb can really make a difference. “Voorhees Township is proud of the choices we have made to protect the environment,” says Mayor Mignogna. “We have preserved close to 250 acres of land for open space in the last six years. We have converted to a single-stream recycling program. We have installed light sensors in Town Hall. Participating in Project Porchlight is yet another smart choice.”