Project Porchlight Blog

The Rochelle Park Senior Club (RPSC) of Rochelle Park, New Jersey, meets twice a month and organizes a variety of social events and bus trips for seniors. On June 23, the RPSC held an Ice Cream Social. “We’ve got a guy that comes, and it’s like a regular ice cream parlor,” says RPSC First Vice President William Betten. “We had chocolate, vanilla, pistachio, strawberry and nuts and whipped cream.”

The afternoon also featured a sweet presentation by Project Porchlight Volunteer & Outreach Coordinator Jill Zajac, who attended the social to educate seniors 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).

After the presentation, Jill distributed a total of 71 CFL bulbs as 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.

The seniors were thrilled to learn about the benefits of CFL bulbs. “It was a fabulous program,” says William. “It was very enjoyable but also educational. People learned a lot about conserving energy.”

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.

And for seniors on fixed incomes, the dollar savings that result from conserving energy can be great news. “Some of our ladies must be getting peanuts for Social Security, so they’re interested in anything that saves energy and money,” says William. “Whenever older people can save money, they’re happy with that.

“The campaign is really worthwhile,” adds William. “Project Porchlight gave us a lot of good ideas.”