Earth Day 2007 - CFLs and the Earth Day Pledge

On Earth Day 2007, the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Visalia celebrated Earth Day with a special program entitled, "Change a Light, Change the World," presented by Green Sanctuary Chair, Harold Wood. The Power Point presentation explained the wastefulness of conventional incandescent light bulbs, and the much more efficient compact fluorescent (CFL) and LED lights now available. Going well beyond the basics, the presentation gave information on the three most important things to look for when buying CFLs - which involves earning some new language for most people: lumens, correlated color temperature, and the color rendering index.

At the end of the program, everyone attending were invited to take two dimmable compact fluorescent light bulbs home with them - for free - thanks to the generosity of congregation friend Daljit Singh. Dr. Singh also contributed the funding for 1,000 CFLs which the Fellowship has delivered to the low-income community of London, in rural Tulare County (pop. 2,000).

Congregational members and friends were also asked to sign the UU Visalia Earth Day Pledge. 99% of all attending turned in the pledge!

The 2007 UU Visalia Earth Day Pledge had three parts:

1) Part One asked each member or friend to replace three or more of the most used lights in their home with Energy Star Compact or Tube Fluorescent lights.

2) Part Two asked each congregant to in tern ask three friends or family to replace three or more of the most use lights in their home with Energy Star Comp[act Fluorescent lights.

3) Part Three asked each congregant to choose one additional action item of their choosing that would help combat global warming and promote greater harmony with the environment.

Here is a sampling of the additional items that members and friends pledged to do:

Eat less meat.
Purchase a Prius.
Use the thermostat to reduce energy usage.
Bike to work one day per week.
Use reusable cloth shopping bags.
Dry clothes on a line outside rather than using a dryer.
Stop buying bottled water, filter my own water.
Buy a new Energy Star HVAC.
Install a drip watering system for yard.
Buy local produce more often.
Introduce my kids to public transportation and use once per month.
Ask my legislator to increase auto fuel efficiency standards to 40 mpg.
Pick up trash wherever I see it - everywhere and always.
Promote CFLs on my e-mail signatures & website
Drive slower in the slow lane rather than in my former fast lane.
Use a bicycle for local errands.
I will talk to supply people in my work place to consider purchasing LED exit signs in all 11 of our buildings.
Use less toxic household cleaners & spread the word.
Bike to farmer's market once a month.
Walk to work one day per week.
Use a power strip to turn off instant-on appliances.
Try to become a vegan.


Anyone interested in learning more about the environmental activities of UU Fellowship of Visalia may e-mail green@uuvisalia.org