The Jersey City India Day Parade held on August 14 in Jersey City, New Jersey, celebrated the 63rd anniversary of India’s independence from British rule and its birth as a sovereign nation in 1947. The parade featured floats, traditional Indian classical dance as well as Bollywood-style performances, and free food for absolutely everybody who came to the event.

And that’s not all: Project Porchlight 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) [1].

A total of 2,000 CFL bulbs were distributed at the parade, 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 [2], and the campaign is made possible thanks to funding by the state Board of Public Utilities (BPU) [3] and the NJCEP [4].

Bhavesh Dave, President of the Newark Avenue Jersey City Chamber of Commerce and one of the organizers of the event, was thrilled to have Project Porchlight attend. “Project Porchlight is really a fantastic program,” says Bhavesh. “It’s giving people an awareness and a reminder that it’s not difficult to become more energy efficient.”

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 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.

“The Project Porchlight booth had people there who were speaking Gujarati, which provided a real comfort zone for many of the people who attended the parade,” says Bhavesh. “They loved getting the CFL bulbs, and they loved becoming more educated about energy conservation. The language was really very helpful—a reminder that this campaign is for the entire community, regardless of what language they speak.”