Ban the Bulb
$423,670 raised and the equivalent of 25,000 cars off the road
The 2009 Ban the Bulb campaign raised over $420,000 to support community groups who helped deliver Victorian home and business owners the opportunity to replace their incandescent light bulbs with energy-saving ones, completely free of charge.
It was delivered by Bendigo Bank’s Generation Green™ program in partnership with AGL Energy, Australia’s leading renewable energy company, Low Energy Supplies and Services, Carbon Down, VECCI and the Victorian Government’s Sustainability Fund.
Over 1,000 volunteers from groups including the State Emergency Service, Apex, Rotary and Lions groups, as well as some sporting clubs have helped to deliver the campaign to more than 50 communities across Victoria, who changed more than 210,000 globes in homes and businesses.
AGL’s General Manager Marketing David Hamilton said the campaign was taken up by almost 12,000 homes and businesses. “Overall, Ban the Bulb has raised well over $400,000 for the participating groups – money that will be used to support projects in their local communities,” Mr Hamilton said.
“The initiative will save around 100,000 tonnes in carbon emissions – the equivalent of taking approximately 25,000 cars off our roads for a year.
“Households and businesses that have taken up this offer will see almost immediate results of them using energy more efficiently by a lowering in their energy bills.
“AGL is proud to be taking action toward creating a sustainable energy future for our communities and customers and this campaign is an excellent example of this,” he said. Mr Hamilton applauded the community groups that have helped to install energy-saving bulbs and said AGL is fully committed to helping Victorian communities receive the financial and environmental benefits of this offer.
What?
50 local communities across Victoria were eligible to receive free energy-saving light bulbs at home or at work thanks to Ban the Bulb.
To book a free installation of energy-saving light bulbs, communities were asked to visit the Bendigo Bank Generation Green website www.bendigobank.com.au/generationgreen to find out whether there was a Bendigo Bank branch participating in their area.
Ban the Bulb is about making it easier for communities to start changing their behaviour and become energy-savers for life. It’s about raising money for local communities by working together to combat climate change. For every bulb replaced, $2 will be donated to a community group who worked to deliver the project.
Who?
As principal sponsors of Ban the Bulb, AGL - Australia’s largest integrated renewable energy company - is taking action toward creating a sustainable energy future for its communities and customers through its sponsorship of Ban the Bulb and Energy Efficiency program. This program covering Victoria and South Australia, also provides customers with interactive advice on other ways to save energy.
Bendigo Bank branches have broad local knowledge and strong community connections, putting them in an excellent position to recruit community groups. The Bendigo Bank promotes the Ban the Bulb program through its participating branches and invites the local community to register for their light bulb exchange in the bank branches.
Carbon Down has partnered with Bendigo Bank’s Generation Green program to expand the program to include the installation of energy-saving bulbs in small and medium sized businesses.
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