It was an illuminating experience for Main Street merchants last week when a group of local school kids showed up.
Teams of red-shirted John Adams Middle School Science Magnet students last week traveled up one side of Main Street and down the other, distributing bags of free compact fluorescent light bulbs to business owners and managers.
The student volunteers were using the gifts to get the attention of the businesses and to let them know about special energy efficiency tune-ups. The no-cost tune-ups, being made available through the city of Santa Monica, demonstrate the significant savings that can be achieved through relatively simple, low-cost energy upgrades.
“Our students have been studying and practicing smart energy management at home and in our school for the last three years as part of the PEAK program,” said Joel Post, one of the JAMS teachers on duty that day. “But this was the first time they’ve brought their knowledge into the small business community.”
In groups of three or four, with an adult in the wings, they identified their business target and surrounded him or her.
“We have a gift for you,” they chorused. “These are special light bulbs that use only one-fourth the energy of regular bulbs, and last 10 times longer.” And when people hesitated, the students repeated, “They’re free! It’s a gift.” The students then followed up by handing over a description of the Small Business Efficiency Tune-Up program — $1,000 worth of energy efficiency upgrades available to Main Street businesses as part of the Six Cities Energy Project.
“The bulbs we distributed today are worth about $50 each in long-term savings,” said Stuart Cooley, the energy efficiency engineer from the City of Santa Monica, who helped train the students. “But they were really just a way for us to let these businesses know about the free tune-ups. The tune-ups consist of relatively simple upgrades that will save businesses from $5,000 to $10,000.”
As a member of the Six Cities Energy Project, Santa Monica has joined Irvine, Moreno Valley, Palm Desert, Brea and West Hollywood in special energy-related activities aimed at bringing residents together to learn more about energy issues and to start them on savings through installation of energy efficiency measures. Over the past 18 months of the program, more than 25,000 citizens — seniors, students, renters, small business owners, city personnel — have participated.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on December 19, 2003. Read the original PDF.