Causecast

Tanaka time!!

Hmm…where do I begin?!

Changing household light bulbs are simple, but when having to change floodlights that hang 12 to 15 feet up…that becomes a little bit of a challenge! But not really, a fellow Causecast employee, Shane, was kind enough to bring in his Light Bulb Changer made by Giraffe. It is an adjustable 11-foot pole with what looks like a sunflower head on the top that can fit any size bulb that you need to change. I stood under the bulbs as I tried to twist each one off, praying that they wouldn’t fall on me like an apple from a tree. I had to first check what kind of flood light to get, what watts it took, and just an overall description of the bulb so I had an idea what I’d be looking for at the store later.

All the while doing this, I thought of how my efforts probably were not going unnoticed because I was right in front of our CEO’s office. Glass windows where he and his guests could probably see my circus act as I struggled to keep the bulb from falling on my head. I felt like a circus kid who would balance an umbrella or some foreign object on their nose for an audience’s “oooohs” and “aaahhhs”. But I think I looked more foolish at the time…

Let the work continue!

I figured out what bulb we would need to replace for non-efficient ones, and 24 seemed to be the lucky number when I came to the final count.

Let there be light!

Tammy & I took our trip to Costco to pick up the floodlights. We needed them in bulk and at a good price, and we got a good price indeed! The bulbs we got were a 4-pack of Feit Electric Conserv Energy Indoor/Outdoor Floodlights. On the box it read that the CFL floodlights would replace a traditional 120 watt bulb with 23 watts. Energy savings here we come!!! When Tammy and I finally made it to the checkout counter, the Costco worker informed us there was a limit to how many we could buy. We both looked at each other in disappointment and confusion. We had 24 lights to get, and we really did not want to have to make a second trip for the rest. Luckily, the Costco manager said the bulbs we were getting were okay to buy in bulk, I held back tears of joy after he stated that! (Not literally..)

Today, Tammy and I got to Causecast early to change out the bulbs. I gave up on the light bulb changer Shane supplied, and switched over to our gigantic Causecast ladder. Let me tell you, I felt like a handyman; all I needed was a handyman’s belt, boots, and jeans that would slightly fit over my bottom. (Sike!) Hmmm, possible Halloween costume???

In the end, changing out the bulbs didn’t take too long. We won’t have to worry about changing those lights for awhile. Also, since Feit Electric states on the box that the lights last five times longer and they use 75% less energy, we’ll be off the hook for years! Can I get a whoop whoop? (Sooo 90’s…)

Our next goal for this week, informing fellow Causecasters to unplug their laptops when they are already fully charged. And hopefully, making it a habit to unplug everything before we leave at the end of the day, because even though something may be turned “off” it’s still using energy if it’s plugged in. We call these “Energy Vampires” and energy vampires usually lose 75% of their lifespan when they’re not in use (that’s because there is still an electric current flowing when plugged in).

Food for thought:

• If your CFLs break, make sure to take these steps for a safe cleanup.

• Now what do you do with the old bulbs? Don’t throw them away! Find the nearest location for recycling your bulbs the right way rather than leaving them in landfills.

• When you’re leaving a room that you won’t be coming back to for awhile, turn off the lights and unplug appliances that are not in use.

• Clean the coils underneath and in the back of your refrigerator (if possible).

• Try not to use your air conditioner and opt for a fan for warm days. Pile on the clothing and blankets during the cold days instead of using your heater! Body warmth people… wink

Want to know more about saving energy for businesses in particular? Follow these instructions from Flex Your Power Best Practice Guides.

Don’t forget to send us your energy saving tips and stories at TheGreenProject@Causecast.org
You could be featured on our blog!!!