CYES Halogen Lamp Swap Event at Elephant Pharm

Marin youth help residents become more energy efficient

Issued February 2, 2007

California Youth Energy Services (CYES) has partnered with Elephant Pharm to hold monthly halogen lamp swaps at its San Rafael store at 909 Grand Ave. for any Marin County resident. The first event will be on March 15th, 2007 from 3:00PM to 6:00PM. Subsequent monthly event dates will be listed in Elephant Pharm's newsletter. Old halogen lamps can be brought to the CYES table and swapped out for FREE safer CFL Torchiere Lamps. Residents must bring a copy of their PG&E bill to participate in the swap. Please note that only Halogen lamps that use 300 watts or more will be swapped at this event. Halogen lamps are extremely inefficient; they use 300 watts or more of power and can cause fires. New safer CFL Torchieres at the highest setting use only 65 watts and give you the same amount of light.

�We're very pleased to partner with CYES,� said Chandre Sarkar, Elephant Pharm's director of wellness education and community outreach. �By helping the Marin community switch out high-wattage, high-temperature halogen torchieres for the safer, lower-wattage CFL variety, we can eliminate a household fire hazard, reduce energy consumption and offer Marin youth more opportunities to become involved in progressive community activities.�

Every summer CYES runs a program to help alleviate energy costs for Marin residents. Employing 16-24 year old youth as Energy Specialists from Marin County, CYES offers free services to make homes more energy efficient and saves residents money on their utility bills. Youth are trained to conduct free energy assessments, install free hardware, and provide information on residential energy efficiency. CYES utilizes many different methods to assist residents in conserving energy in the home. Energy Specialists install Compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) which replace incandescent light bulbs, using 66% less energy. Energy Specialists also install efficient-flow showerheads that conserve both water and energy while still providing a satisfying shower. Kitchen and bathroom aerators are also replaced to decrease water and energy usage. CYES even offers retractable clotheslines to those who want to reduce operating costs of their dryer. All of these products, all of these services, are entirely FREE.

The benefits of the CYES program extend beyond the services residents receive; Marin youth employed by CYES learn how to improve their communities through action. Field work teaches essential job skills and supplies invaluable work experience. By working in teams and interacting with residents, students develop their interpersonal skills as well as their ability to communicate. CYES encourages its youth to take pride in their hard work while still having fun. The program begins July 1st and runs through August 11th. Marin residents can schedule a FREE appointment by calling the CYES office at (510) 665-1501 x10. Appointments can also be made at a CYES halogen swap at Elephant Pharm.

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