The room was crowded and the assembled throng was buzzing with energy---green energy!
On Monday, January 7, 2008 my wife and I attended the town of Brighton, NY's "Color Brighton Green New Year's Resolution Party", which was a rally hosted by the Green Brighton Task Force, a creation of Supervisor Sandra Frankel. This rally was held to challenge Brighton's residents to cut their energy use by 10 percent in 2008! Multitudes of residents lined up to sign a pledge form to participate in this noble cause. Various vendors were also in attendance. Businesses such as Ambrose Heating and Cooling (solar energy), Rural Opportunities Inc. (a private, not-for-profit regional community development and human service organization), Tuthill Lighting (compact fluorescent light bulbs), and organizations such as the Rochester Green Business Network and Monroe County Recycling informed and enlightened the minds of the eager audience.
What would be the benefits of households reducing their energy consumption by 10 percent? According to Elias Rodriguez of the Environmental Protection Agency, not only would many tons of carbon dioxide be removed from the air each year, but also, "if every household changed one light bulb to an energy-efficient one, the nation would save and estimated $600 million in energy costs and prevent greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to 800,000 cars..." (Democrat & Chronicle- 1/7/08). The Green Brighton Task Force also recommends the following steps that all of us could easily incorporate into our lives:
* Change a light bulb (to a cfl bulb).
* Turn off the lights (when you leave a room).
* Drive less.
*Install a programmable thermostat.
* Go local.
* Support renewable energy.
* Buy energy efficient appliances.
* Turn things all the way off.
* Save water.
* Recycle.
Brighton, NY's going green? That's one Green-Sexy town!
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