Reducing the juice
How many times have you thought you should switch out your old florescent light bulbs? Although LED lights are more energy-efficient, sometimes their higher cost causes people to avoid taking the next step to reduce their carbon footprint. On Tuesday, the Science Center Plaza in front of the Harvard Farmers Market was buzzing with green-shirted staff members, displaying bright lights and power strips. It was a clever way for the Office of Sustainability to host its “lighting fair,” which offered members of the Harvard community energy-efficient bulbs at a fraction of their regular cost. The fair, which partnered with Energy Star, NSTAR, and Mass Save, began as a Harvard real estate and housing sustainability program but evolved into a University-wide event, providing tools and resources to reduce energy use. At the fair, staff, students, and faculty chose from a variety of $5 to $10 LED lights, chalking up discounts of about 90 percent....