Project Porchlight Blog

New Jersey Friends of Clearwater (NJFC) is a non-profit, volunteer-run organization that works to educate citizens about the importance of clean water and to encourage them to be responsible custodians of the estuaries of Hudson, the Raritan, Delaware, and other state rivers as well as the Jersey Shore coastline and its inland waterways.

This year, NJFC held the 35th annual Clearwater Festival on August 21 in Asbury Park, New Jersey. The event featured an “Environmental Justice” roundtable discussion, children’s performers--including Robert Francis, the Dork of Deception—and such main stage artists as troubadour Spook Handy. Vendors offered a variety of environmentally friendly items, including organic festival t-shirts and stainless steel water bottles.

Project Porchlight was also on hand 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 205 CFL bulbs were distributed at the festival, 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.

“Project Porchlight really does a great job in raising awareness about how people can save energy and energy costs by switching to CFL bulbs,” says Joellen Lundy, NJFC Vice President and Site Director for this year’s festival. “For some people, money can be an issue when they see that CFL bulbs initially cost more, but once you try a CFL bulb and you see that it’s just as good as the other ones, saves you money on your bills, and is going to last even longer, then you’re inclined to purchase one again.”

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.

When it comes to protecting our environment, simple actions matter. Even something as simple as changing a light bulb is important. “We can all start by doing little things,” says Joellen. “You might start by switching to CFL bulbs, and that gets you into the awareness groove. After that, maybe you try something else. Becoming environmentally aware is a process, and once you get into it, you realize that you are having an impact.”