The motto of the Colts Neck Country Fair in Colts Neck, New Jersey, is “Where fun and family come together to benefit everyone,” and that pretty much sums up this annual event. This year’s fair, held on August 19-22, took place in Bucks Mill Park and featured four days of rides, games, crafts, vendors, food, entertainment, and fireworks as well as a forum for community organizations to raise awareness and funds.

Project Porchlight was on hand for all four days of the fair, educating 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 269 CFL bulbs were distributed at the fair, 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] .

Anita Dedalis, one of the fair’s organizers, was thrilled to include Project Porchlight this year. “I have been to other fairs and events in the area where I have seen Project Porchlight handing out bulbs, and I can tell you that this campaign is really getting the word out there,” says Anita. “Project Porchlight understands that you have to go the people. If you just have an office and you do advertising or mailers, people aren’t going to get the message. But when you go to where the people are, whether it’s a fair or a township or county event, that’s when you really are reaching them.”

When it comes to the environment, simple actions really do matter. Even something as simple as changing a light bulb can make a huge difference: 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.

“Project Porchlight is not just spreading the word about energy conservation; it’s also showing people the CFL bulbs, and people really need that,” says Anita. “Right now, we’re seeing the result of our parents and grandparents not really thinking about conserving energy, and our world is being destroyed. So seeing these CFL bulbs and understanding how much they can help is really important.”

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. “We need to educate ourselves so the next generations won’t be cleaning up after us,” says Anita. “Project Porchlight is doing exactly that, and that’s phenomenal.”