Mene Mac exchanges energy for 1st place in the Better Bulbs Blitz-Off Wednesday, December 07, 2011 By Leilani Siclot The Mene Mac gang remains true to the motto, “Be The Change” in this year’s Better Bulbs Blitz-Off competition. - Blue Planet Foundation Advertising Earlier this October, Moanalua High School’s Mene Mac team won first place in the Better Bulbs Blitz-Off competition, held by the Blue Planet Foundation. The Blue Planet Foundation is a local non-profit organization with a bold goal to eliminate the use of fossil fuels in the world – starting with our islands. In hope of great results, the non-profit group plans to make a difference in the community by swapping traditional light bulbs for Compact Fluorescent Light (CFL) bulbs in order to save energy.  In the competition, our Mene Mac students made sure that each incandescent bulb in the community was exchanged with a CFL bulb. Unlike incandescent light bulbs, CFLs have proved to be far more efficient in reducing energy consumption and preventing greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to global climate change. According to greenfeet.com, CFL bulbs “last from eight to ten times longer [than incandescent lights], use about 75% less energy, and produce 90% less heat while delivering more light per watt.”  “The most difficult part about exchanging bulbs in the community was going and actually finding people who still had incandescent light bulbs. Most of the people that I asked already had switched their bulbs to CFL's,” said  Mene Mac Advisor Mrs. Lynne Sueoka. However, with non-stop toiling, Moanalua students and Mrs. Sueoka exchanged the amazing number of 6,344 CFL bulbs in just one month. The effort of asking parents, teachers, neighbors, and the rest of the community has definitely shown the commitment they have to the environment of Hawaii. The experience has even changed students’ perspective on living a more eco-friendly lifestyle. “It made me realize how much energy we use with the regular incandescent bulbs, and simply just switching it helps save money and the environment,” said Charina Crisostomo (12).  By the end of the competition, Moanalua High School swapped a total of 8,000 light bulbs.  Mene Mac students will use the winning funds for transportation to the National Convention of the Student Television Network next spring. Kamehameha Elementary came in as a close second, exchanging 5,667 CFL bulbs. According to blueplanetfoundation.com, the work of every school helped  raise $12 million in energy savings, displace 67,000 barrels of oil, and prevent 38,000 tons of carbon pollution.  However, without the dedication and hard work of all the competition’s participants none of it could have been possible.  Each student played an important part in keeping Hawaii green – one bulb at a time, and that is what matters most.

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