KINGSTON, R.I. – November 12, 2015 – As the University of Rhode Island continues its quest to eliminate energy vampires, URI’s department of Facilities Services offers an opportunity to fight these energy drainers.
Faculty, staff and students are invited to bring a compact fluorescent light bulb to Booth 1 in the Memorial Union on Monday, November 16 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. in exchange for a free energy efficient LED bulb.
“People can exchange any bulb, but we’re looking for compact fluorescents because those contain mercury and have to be recycled,” said URI’s Recycling Coordinator Mary Brennan. “We’ll make sure those bulbs are recycled properly.”
The event is part of a campus-wide initiative to conserve energy and reduce the university’s carbon footprint. “We’ve been changing bulbs all over campus to more energy efficient ones, and now we’d like to extend the invitation to faculty, staff and students,” Brennan added.
University community members are encouraged to find a bulb either at work or at home and bring it to the Union to be exchanged. According to Con Edison, a New York utility company, an LED light bulb uses up to 98 percent less electricity than other types of bulbs and can last up to 20 times longer.
“By using LED bulbs instead of compact fluorescents, people will reduce their energy usage, thereby reducing their electric bill,” Brennan said.
David Lamb, URI’s assistant director of Facilities Services for Utilities, points out the importance of this event. “Facilities Services will continue to look at infrastructure changes, like improved lighting, smart light switches and efficient heating systems, but we need help from every individual on a continuing basis to make URI truly sustainable. URI’s first light bulb exchange is the campus community’s opportunity to do its part.”
Brennan said the Facilities Services department plans to hold another light bulb exchange during the spring semester, possibly around Earth Day.
Emma Clarke, an intern in the URI Department of Marketing & Communications and a public relations and French double major, wrote this release.