Project Porchlight Blog

The highlight of this year’s Orange Jazz Festival on July 3 in downtown Orange, New Jersey, was a real crowd-pleaser: Orange Mayor Eldridge Hawkins Jr. got on stage to play saxophone with famed drummer Cecil Brooks and His All-Star Band. Their rendition of Grover Washington Jr.’s “Mister Magic” was a big hit with the audience!

Folks in attendance enjoyed other gifted jazz performers as well. And between sets, they also appreciated the opportunity, presented by Project Porchlight, to learn 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 207 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 NJCEP.

Darrell Holcomb, Director of Community Services for the township of Orange, was pleased to have Project Porchlight at the annual concert. “Orange is launching a ‘Go Green’ campaign,” he says. “Project Porchlight is an excellent addition to what we’re already doing.”

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.

“It is always good to raise awareness within the community, and that’s exactly what Project Porchlight is doing. The campaign is effectively making people aware of ways to reduce energy use,” says Darrell. “Project Porchlight’s ability to raise awareness about the importance of conserving energy and the benefits thereof is especially important in these tough economic times.”