April 27, 2007

“Changing Light Bulbs Can Help Change The World,” a White Plains Youth Tells A Board Committee - 5th grader's explains 'brilliant' idea to help fight against global warming

Click here to read Katie's presentation.

Katie Ring presents her "Change a Light" project to the Board's Energy & Environment Committee		Katie with her parents, Eileen and Tim Ring, in the Board Chamber with Board Chair Bill Ryan

Katie Ring, a fifth-grader at Our Lady of Sorrows School in White Plains, posed a question to members of a County Board of Legislators committee on April 23: “How many light bulbs does it take to change the world?”

 

“Only one,” Katie told members of the Energy and Environment Committee, holding an object resembling an ice cream swirl. Katie was invited to the meeting by County Board Chairman William Ryan and committee Chairman Thomas Abinanti.

 

By changing from incandescent bulbs to Compact Fluorescent Bulbs (CFLs), anyone can not only do their part to protect the environment, they will also save money.

 

“CFLs generate the same amount of light as incandescent bulbs, but generate a lot less heat. Only 10 percent of energy used by an incandescent bulb is used for light – 90 percent escapes as heat,” Katie said.

 

She pointed out that by replacing an incandescent bulb with a CFL can save more than $33 a year in energy costs and prevent 450 pounds of greenhouse gas emissions from entering the atmosphere.

 

Another benefit to CFLs it that they contain only a small amount of mercury and none of the substance is released when the bulbs are used, Katie said. However, CFLs should be recycled, through such means as county Household Chemical Clean up days, but not thrown away in regular garbage, she said.

 

Westchester County is doing its part to encourage the use of CFLs. The county gave away the bulbs at the Kids Fair at the County Center on April 21 and during its Earth Day Celebration the following day. “Change a Light Day” is scheduled for October 3.

 

Katie’s interest in CFLs began this past winter when she needed a project for her Academic Fair in February. She learned about the light bulbs from her mother, who told Katie about an article about the energy efficient bulbs.

 

Among those attending the Academic Fair was Ryan. “I was particularly intrigued with this project,” he recalled. “She gave me a very thorough explanation.”

 

Ryan said he wanted his colleagues to learn about CFLs and possibly take legislative action

regarding their usage. “It just seemed to me that it would be of interest to the legislators,” he said. Ryan spoke to Katie’s parents and they agreed to let their daughter come to White Plains to address the committee.

 

During the February event at her school, Katie did more than just explain the function of CFLs. “At the Academic Fair I asked people to take the Energy Star Change A Light Pledge. I collected pledges from 38 people who agreed to change 135 bulbs,” Katie said. She entered the pledges into a spreadsheet that was sent to Energy Star, which is seeking 500,000 to take the pledge.

 

“Over their lifetime, those 135 bulbs will save 38,000 kilowatt hours of electricity and remove 60,000 pounds of greenhouse gases from the atmosphere,” Katie said, adding that she has changed bulbs in her home.

 

Who said individuals are powerless to fight Global Warming?