By Joel Keller
THE ERICKSON TRIBUNE

Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you know that the color green is the hottest color of the 21st century. Concerns over global warming, dependence on foreign oil, and skyrocketing fuel prices have led everyone from world  leaders to hybrid-driving suburban families to a greater awareness of the planet’s resources.

But how does a person “go green?” For many, their first foray into the world of environmental friendliness is a funny-looking light bulb.

Compact fluorescent giveaway
In October and November, Cedar Crest gave away more than 600 compact fluorescent (CFL) bulbs to residents. The giveaways were held over three weeks, with bulbs made available to residents on Tuesday and Wednesday evenings in each of the community’s three clubhouses.

“We wanted to work with the residents and the Resident Advisory Council to and give at least one CFL to each resident apartment as sort of a primer,” says William Wallace, Cedar Crest’s senior facilities manager. “I think it went over very well.”

The bulbs, which light up using fluorescent gas instead of a burning filament as in incandescent bulbs, are designed to output the same amount of light as their traditional counterparts while using a fraction of the energy. A CFL that consumes 23–30 watts, for example, emits the same amount of light as a 100 watt bulb, according to the federal government’s EnergyStar website  (www.energystar.gov). The bulbs also run at a cooler temperature and last much longer than traditional incandescent bulbs.

Instructions on use and disposal
Notification of the giveaway was sent to every resident, and Erickson’s corporate energy manager, Keith Buchman, also discussed the program on Cedar Crest’s local television station, Channel 6. Pamphlets were given with each bulb, instructing residents on their use and how to dispose of them.