He founded the organization in 2006 as a response
to the devastation left by Hurricane Katrina. "I had to do
something to help New Orleans get back on its feet again",
he said, "And I knew it had to be beneficial to the city of
New Orleans as well as to our planet". "We calculated the
pollution we created by touring to Europe and figured out how many
CFLs had to be installed to offset the pollution."
With each
concert ticket sold at shows in Europe people were asked to donate
to Green Light New Orleans. The audience immediately supported
the idea and the fundraiser was a big success .With the support of private donations and sponsorsGreen Light New Orleans is rapidly growing to meet
the rising demand created by New Orleanians' desire to save energy and help the planet. Green Light New Orleans is a 501(c)(3). founded out of a desire to help New Orleans rebuild into a green community in which the historical barriers between race and class were transcended and restoration efforts would embrace an environmentally sound approach.
Using volunteers, Green Light New Orleans enables low and fixed income households to switch from incandescent light bulbs to energy efficient compact fluorescent lights (CFLs) which reduce carbon emissions and utility costs. Our strategy is to
actually go to the homes of New Orleans residents and install the
CFLs with their help.
The mission of the program is to have a positive environmental impact by increasing the use of CFLs, helping low income residents reduce their utility bills and creating a connection between the volunteers and recipients of the service. Our goal is a green New Orleans. The service
is free. We change awareness as we change the bulbs, planting a seed that teaches participants that small changes can make a difference in combating the effects of climate change and rebuilding in a more efficient and sustainable manner. Read more about Green Light
Green Light New Orleans is a 501c3 non-profit organization