STUDENT VOLUNTEERS HELP SWITCH ON CONSERVATION

Walking from door to door, light bulbs in hand, student volunteers swap out front porch lights for Denver homeowners while they talk to them about all the simple ways basic living alterations can benefit the environment.

The Porch Bulb Project had students canvassing the North Denver neighborhoods Jan. 17 as part of Groundwork Denver’s Take Charge! Project where student volunteers take their knowledge of energy conservation and act upon it.

The project aims to prove that making an environmental difference is as easy as replacing an incandescent front porch light bulb for a compact florescent bulb. This simple change, at no cost to the homeowner, saves energy and prevents the release of CO2 emissions, Take Charge! Project Manager Stephanie Fry said.

Although it only began two months ago, the program already has about 100 student volunteers.

“[Take Charge!] has really taken off,” Fry said. “It’s like a mouth to a fire hose.”

Groundwork Denver was founded in October 2002. The organization engages the community in several different projects, from tree planting to community revitalization projects to youth employment projects.

On Martin Luther King Jr. Day, teams of two volunteers were able to reach on average 30 to 50 homes. With 100 volunteers, there were 50 teams who were able to reach between 1,500 and 2,500 homes.

Take Charge! spends 10 weeks in a single neighborhood. Communities in Colorado Springs, Fort Collins, Denver and Durango have received the energy efficient, CFL light bulbs. Census maps are referenced so low-income communities are selected to take part in the project, Fry said.

Prior to canvassing the neighborhoods, student volunteers learn about free recycling services and other programs that can benefit members of these communities. The information the students receive is specific to each neighborhood so volunteers know about services that are available in each community.

At the end of the 10 weeks, the students participate in the Porch Bulb Project, which puts together all the information they have received. Students also learn the scope of community outreach, Fry said.

Students who are especially passionate about the project are asked to be student energy ambassadors. Through presentations, social events and door-to-door canvases, the ambassadors continue the outreach of renewable energy in their community after the Take Charge! project has left.

“[The ambassadors are] equipped with the tools and knowledge so they can be inspired to continue with the message that [Take Charge!] is sending out there to continue spreading the word on renewable energy,” Fry said.

In the summer of 2010, student energy ambassador Lauren Chapman started volunteering with Groundwork Denver.

“I was immediately intrigued and soon after I was on board. Having to work independently on this project in Pueblo has given me a great deal of responsibility as well as accountability,” Chapman said. “I am looking forward to changes being done in Pueblo and am willing to help out any way that I can.”

The super ambassadors will also “connect to the community and work with them in the long-term,” Fry said. “They will convey the message [of renewable energy] and keep conveying the message.”

To date, 6,348 bulbs have been swapped. After one year, the amount of energy saved will be 435,291 kilowatt hours each, and 380 tons of CO2 emissions will have been prevented, Fry said.

Energy costs saved will have amounted to $39,176 dollars each year. Twenty-six neighborhoods have been impacted, and 1,539 volunteers have interacted with their communities.

“[What’s] so shocking to me is that engaging the youth makes people more perceptive [to the project],” Fry said. “[The community finds the program to be] heartwarming, and they feel that it is nice having kids come to the door who want to better their community.”

Fry will be holding a presentation and workshop for Take Charge! at Auraria from 12–2 p.m. Feb. 15 in Tivoli 320C.

Credit: Linzy Novotny - The Met Online
Photos by Sean Mullins