Faces of Green Light: Americorps Volunteer Earl Sires
Green Light New Orleans has always been proud to run on volunteer power. It is not just the light bulbs that make a difference, but also the positive energy that each Green Light volunteer brings into a New Orleans home. Over the past 2 years, we have been lucky to work with the Americorps NCCC program- teams of ten Americorps volunteers that spend 6 weeks working for different nonprofits around the nation. Over their time with Green Light, these teams install an impressive number of light bulbs (sometimes as many as 5,000!), and contribute their energy and creativity to other Green Light projects as well. This spring, we’ve been very lucky to work with the Sacramento-based “Blue 6” team. With their positive attitude and impressive skill set, they have made very effective contributions- including, among others, teaching students through Green Light’s recently launched education project, providing graphic design skills, working with specialty homes and businesses, and of course, installing free light bulbs!
The following is the testimonial of Blue 6 team member, Earl Sires.
“Green Light has allowed me to experience New Orleans in a unique and intimate way. Visiting the people of New Orleans in their homes gives you a perspective on the city that would be impossible to get otherwise. I’m also able to make a direct positive impact on New Orleans by helping the homeowners we visit reduce their energy use and bills. As a result, I’ve noticed a drastic difference in the number of CFLs we install in various homes. Blue 6 has installed as few as five bulbs and as many as fifty in a single home. There is also no one type of “Green Light participant”. They come from many cultural backgrounds, have vastly different income levels, and each home we visit has a unique personality.
One thing is constant, though, and that is the amount of energy each of these bulbs is saving. At the end of the day, that’s what it’s all about. Every bulb counts, and the cumulative effect of changing out as many incandescents for CFLs as possible makes a huge difference.
Blue 6 has contacted several homeowners who have already had their bulbs installed, and their appreciation was unanimous. Many tell us that they’ve seen bigger savings than they thought they would on their electricity bills. One man said “I’ve only had them for two months and I already see a big difference”. Others say they’re just happy with the knowledge that they’re doing their part to reduce energy usage.
In addition, the “Buy Green Give Green” program gives homeowners who can afford to buy the bulbs the opportunity to purchase them through Green Light. Every CFL purchased through Buy Green Give Green funds a standard CFL for installation in another home. It’s a two for one deal.
The central idea behind Green Light is that small steps add up to big changes. Changing a light bulb might not seem like a big deal, but imagine if an entire city made that simple change. Green Light has already made a significant amount of progress towards achieving this goal. That’s what tied together the gap between the low-income and more well-off homes I found myself installing bulbs in. It’s not about how many bulbs we change in each home or whether or not a particular homeowner can afford to pay for these light bulbs – it’s about the whole city of New Orleans coming together to change the way we use energy. Every homeowner who signs up for this program, whether they need five bulbs or fifty, is taking an equal step towards what could literally be called a brighter future.”