Gov. Timothy M. Kaine gave 1,800 compact
fluorescent light bulbs to VCU last Wednesday
in an effort to raise awareness for Virginia’s
new energy policy.
The amount of money saved by replacing
1,800 incandescent light bulbs is $7,200, said
Carl Beckelheimer, energy manager for VCU.
The money saved is only one of the benefits
of using the new bulbs, he said.
The bulbs last four times longer than incandescent
bulbs, Beckelheimer said. The Energy
Star Web site http://energystar.gov reports that
compact fluorescent light bulbs last 10 times
longer than incandescent bulbs.
Energy use is on the minds of many
Virginians because of Kaine’s new energy
plan released on Sept. 12. Executive Order
48 mandated in April that Kaine execute
energy regulations on all state businesses and
institutions in April.
Before Executive Order 48, Beckelheimer’s
job did not exist, he said.
“Now, we report to the Department of
Mines, Minerals and Energy annually,”
Beckelheimer said.
Starting in 2007, Beckelheimer has to report
projects planned and money saved on account
of the new energy efficient policy.
Some projects on the horizon for saving
energy at VCU include upgrading lighting
from older, inefficient bulbs to newer, more
efficient bulbs, consolidating larger equipment
use and repairing weather seals in windows
and doors to save on heating and cooling costs,
Beckelheimer said.
“Heating, ventilation, cooling and lighting
are the biggest energy drains at VCU,”
Beckelheimer said.
Kaine, recognizing that energy-use issues
are not exclusive to VCU, announced Aug. 12
that 20,000 compact fluorescent light bulbs
will be distributed at the Virginia State Fair,
held Sept. 27 to Oct. 7.
“Some are being used to light the livestock
tent,” said Wendy Campbell, media relations
manager for the Virginia State Fair.
Kaine also announced that an additional
27,000 bulbs will be used in state facilities.
The Virginia Department of Mines, Minerals
and Energy used non-general funds to pay for
the bulbs, said Jeff Tiller, deputy press secretary
for Kaine. The department paid $2.04 for each
bulb, Tiller said.
Ruth Morrison, a Richmond representative
for the National Environmental Trust, a nonprofit
organization that educates citizens on
environmental issues, said the bulb-giving is
not enough.
“I think that it is an important gesture …
but we need to look at (the issue) nationally
and globally,” said Ruth Morrison, a Richmond
representative for the National Environmental
Trust, a non-profit organization that educates
citizens on environmental issues.
“If everyone who picks up a light bulb at
the fair goes home and writes two letters to
the senator … then we will begin to make
progress,” Morrison said.
“Sen. John Warner has begun to set a strong
example by taking up this (energy) issue …
our nation’s problem with energy is one that
needs leadership at the national level.”
Things you can do at
VCU to conserve energy:
Turn off computer
monitors when not in use
Turn off lights when
leaving a room
Don’t leave hot water
running
Report problems when
you see them (leaky
faucets, broken windows)
—Carl Beckelheimer, VCU
energy manager