Change for the better

HOW many CFA volunteers does it take to change a light bulb?
As many as you need is the simple answer when it comes to the thousands of free energy-efficient light bulbs on offer from the Yarra Valley group of Community Bank Branches.
The branches – Woori Yallock, Warburton, Wandin Seville, Yarra Junction, Mt Evelyn and Mooroolbark – are offering the light bulbs to local residents and the CFA is installing them free of charge.
The banks, in partnership with environmental services company Low Energy Supplies and Services (LESS), local CFA brigades and the Shire of Yarra Ranges, are offering residents the chance to have their incandescent light bulbs exchanged for energy-efficient ones over the next six weeks.
The Ban the Bulb campaign is expected to reduce the greenhouse gases emitted by local residents by 50,000 tonnes as a result of exchanging 50,000 light bulbs.
According to Allan Grundy, Mt Evelyn and Districts Community Bank chairman, it’s the equivalent to taking 12,000 cars off the road for a year.
It’s a project he says is a win-win and win again for residents, for the CFA and for the environment.
“This program allows members of our community to make that change at absolutely no cost to them – we will even have the bulbs installed for them,” said Mr Grundy who also pointed out the change would reduce energy bills.
Woori Yallock CFA captain Rick Shaw agrees.
While enjoying the irony that his members have had undergo training on how to change a light globe, with $2 per bulb going to local brigades, he said members are happy to be involved.
The potential under the pilot program is for a $100,000 injection of funds to the Yarra Ranges brigades involved.
Installing 15 of the new globes in a four-person household could save up to one tonne of greenhouse gas emissions annually.
The project includes taking away the old light globes for recycling – which is the shire’s contribution to the project.
For LESS, the benefits arrive in the form of carbon credits from the recycled globes which Mr Grundy said can then be sold back into the system.
Residents in participating bank districts are encouraged to register promptly with their local community bank branch.
Installation will begin next week and continue through April and May.