San Gabriel Valley Energy Partnership to Launch Holiday Light Exchange Events in Monrovia

The following news release is courtesy of the San Gabriel Valley Energy Wise Partnership.

The San Gabriel Valley Energy Wise Partnership (SGVEWP) Friday will launch its Holiday Light Exchange at the Friday Night Family Festival.

This event will offer San Gabriel Valley residents that are Southern California Edison customers the opportunity to exchange an old incandescent holiday light string for a new ultra - efficient light string.

The event in Monrovia will be the first of nine similar exchanges that will take place at various locations in the San Gabriel Valley during the months of November and December. SGVEWP is an alliance between the San Gabriel Valley Council of Governments (COG ), Southern California Edison (SCE) and Southern California Gas Company (SCG) that is funded by California utility customers and administered by SCE under the auspices of the California Public Utilities Commission.

The SGVEWP is providing this free service to educate residents about the benefits of energy efficiency while reducing their energy usage this holiday season. Light - emitting diodes, or LEDs, are small light sources that are illuminated by the movement of electrons through a semiconductor material. LEDs are exceptionally energy efficient and may use up to 90 percent less energy than a comparable incandescent bulb.

The amount of electricity consumed by just one 7-watt incandescent bulb could power 140 LEDs — equivalent to four 10 - foot LED strings. These Energy Star qualified lights can also last up to 10 times longer than traditional incandescent strands, are cool to the touch , reduce the risk of fire, and come in a variety of colors, shapes, and lengths.

San Dimas Councilmember, Denis Bertone , Chair of the COG ’s Energy, Environment, and Natural Resources Committee said, “In 2008, the COG entered into a partnership with SCE to bring knowledge and resources to our community regarding the importance of energy efficiency. The LED Holiday Light Exchange is a perfect example of how this innovative collaboration benefits our cities, residents, and the natural environment all at once.”

The exceptional qualities of LED lights make the Holiday Light Exchange a unique opportunity to introduce residents to the benefit from the light strands’ durability and efficiency, while improving the environment.

The exchange event for Monrovia is from 5 to 9 p.m. at South Myrtle Avenue and Colorado Boulevard.