FAMU and the City of Tallahassee Sponsor Second Annual Daylight

For the second year in a row, Florida A&M University (FAMU), in cooperation with the City of Tallahassee Energy Services Department, will distribute free compact fluorescent light bulbs to city residents on the first day of Daylight Saving Time. Sponsored by the FAMU Green Coalition, the Second Annual Change a Light for Daylight Saving event is scheduled for Sunday, March 9, from 1 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. FAMU students will distribute 2,000 CFLs to residents in the Southside community.

Last year, 80 volunteers distributed nearly 2,300 CFLs to residents for the southside of town. The value of the energy savings over the lifetime of all of those CFLs was estimated to be $183,000.

“To receive a free compact fluorescent light bulb, all individuals need to do is give us one of their old incandescent bulbs,” said David Byrne, energy services director for the City of Tallahassee. “We’ll give each household up to four new bulbs in exchange for four old bulbs until our supply runs out.”

Volunteers will go door-to-door, to pass out the CFLs. In addition, distribution sites will be set up at the following locations: Bethel AME Church, 501 W. Orange Avenue; Catholic Charities, 1380 Blountstown Highway; Boys & Girls Clubs of the Big Bend, 306 Laura Lee Avenue; and Apalachee Ridge Technology Learning Center, 937 Kendall Drive.

"We had a great time distributing the CFLs last year,” said Markita Samuel, student co-chair of the FAMU Green Coalition. “Residents were excited to get their free CFLs and to save money on their energy bills.”