OGDEN — Residents of northern Utah can exchange old lightbulbs for free, energy-efficient LED bulbs thanks to a program sponsored by Weber State University’s Energy and Sustainability Office, Sustainability Practices and Research Center, and their community partners.
The lightbulb exchange, called Empower Northern Utah, runs through Nov. 16. Participants can exchange lightbulbs at the WSU Community Education Center, 2605 Monroe Blvd., on Wednesdays from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., or at the Weber County Library, 2464 Jefferson Ave., from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Community members can exchange up to 15 incandescent or compact fluorescent lightbulbs per household. Officials say the energy-efficient bulbs will save residents more than $100 per year on their power bills. Participants can also learn about other inexpensive ways to improve energy efficiency, while helping with air quality and the climate.
“Underserved and low-income communities often carry a disproportionate burden when it comes to energy costs,” Jenn Bodine, WSU sustainability coordinator, said in a statement. “This issue is compounded by homes with inefficient lighting, heating and cooling, ineffective insulation and increasingly extreme temperatures.”
With funds from the Alan and Jeanne Hall Endowment for Community Outreach, and a donation of light-emitting diode lightbulbs from Rocky Mountain Power, Weber State Energy & Sustainability Office has 4,500 LED bulbs to distribute.
“In addition to both the energy and monetary savings for those who need it most, this program helps everyone in our communities get involved in and benefit from being more environmentally conscious,” Bodine said.
For more information about the Empower Northern Utah Light Bulb Exchange, visit weber.edu/empower.