EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST TO PARTICIPATE IN THE 2010 GREEN LIGHT SCHOOLS FUNDRAISER ARE NOW BEING SOUGHT - If your school is located within a Council participating in the syt! program you can register to participate now by emailing jmcminn@gosnells.wa.gov.au.
A community survey conducted by the SEREG in 2002 indicated that school children are the age group most resistant to changing their energy use behaviour, and women were the sex most reluctant to make changes to their energy-use behaviour. A school fundraiser program was considered a great way to reach both these groups (similar to the well-known chocolate fundraising programs).
Thanks to ongoing financial support from the Office of Energy, syt! Councils will once again be running the Green Light project in Term 2, 2010. This time the project will focus on the distribution of half-priced energy saving LED down lights (to replace 50W halogen down lights), energy saving compact fluorescent light globes (CFLs), timer switches (to help eliminate stand-by power usage) and draught tape (to help reduce the need for artificial heating and cooling expenses).
Of course, all the other fun novelty and promotional items for the kids can still be found in the Green Light showbags!
This Green Light project was initially piloted across SEREG Councils in 2002-03 and the project was expanded in 2008 and was run across five Councils participating in the switch your thinking! program, namely the City of Armadale, City of Gosnells, Serpentine Jarrahdale Shire, City of Perth, and Town of Victoria Park.
The 2008 syt! Green Light project was a resounding success and resulted in syt! Councils working closely with 35 schools and community groups. More than 10,000 households received information on the benefits - both environmental and financial - of using energy efficient lighting in their homes.
The end result was the successful distribution of 7,212 compact fluorescent light globes (CFLs) to over 2,000 households - this was nearly 50% more than the original aim of the project (e.g. 5000 CFLs).
The use of these energy efficient CFLs instead of ordinary incandescent light globes will have a significant effect on reducing the region's greenhouse gas emissions and will abate some 4,327 T of equivalent carbon dioxide (-e CO2) over the next 5 years.
