Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
More than 70 households may save money on their electric bills thanks to Grace College students.
Twenty-four students and Housing Opportunities of Warsaw installed energy-efficient light bulbs and weatherization kits Thursday to help less fortunate residents save on electricity costs. The work was done in Warsaw, Winona Lake, Claypool, Pierceton, Clunette and Syracuse.
The event was part of Energy Star's seventh annual "Change A Light, Change the World Day."
It is timed to coincide with Energy Awareness Month and daylight-saving time when lights stay on longer. The national event encourages colleges and universities to replace incandescent light bulbs with fluorescent light bulbs.
Students filled out pledge forms stating they would change at least one light bulb to save energy and help reduce the risks of global climate change.
They also completed a home activity sheet with residents comparing light bulb prices and energy use.
REMC Operation Round Up, an organization that funds a local program called Weatherization Kits, donated the kits that include weather strips for doors, foam insulators for light sockets, brochures on energy efficiency and clear plastic and tape to be placed on windows to keep cold air out of homes.
The program is open to all residents in Kosciusko County, with an emphasis on the working poor and families on limited income, such as senior citizens.
"These kits are intended to help stop cold air and drafts from coming into homes and dirty air from coming in through walls and outlets," said Larry Easterday, manager of marketing and member relations for Kosciusko REMC.
Wabash Electric Supply Inc., Lowe's and Teghtmeyer Ace Hardware donated 250 fluorescent light bulbs that were installed in residents' homes.
The students and residents found out that incandescent bulbs cost 3.3 times more to pay for bulb and electrical costs compared to fluorescent lights. They also discovered fluorescent lights have a 10,000 hour life expectancy compared to 1,500 hours for incandescent lights. There is 60 watts of energy used in an incandescent light, and 14 watts of energy used in a fluorescent light.
Jon Gale, a junior at Grace College, was one of the students who participated in the event.
"It's great to have the opportunity to help people in the community learn how to save on energy costs," Gale said.
Gale installed a fluorescent light bulb and foam insulators for light sockets at the home of Carolyn Jarrell in Pierceton.
Jarrell said she was glad to learn how to conserve energy.
"I will buy more fluorescent bulbs because that is what my sister does and I've learned I can save on electricity," Jarrell said.
Pam Kennedy, HOW executive director, said the day was beneficial for the residents and students to learn more about energy efficiency.
"The day was geared to teach people on limited incomes how to save on electricity and educate students how they also can save on energy," Kennedy said.
"Change a Light, Change the World Day is a tool to educate our community on a way to save money on household expenses in a time where family budgets are stretched."
