The Bulb Free campaign, a grassroots sustainability initiative started by students and researchers, reduces energy consumption and cost by encouraging UCSB employees to evaluate lighting needed for a given room or work area.

Many offices and labs are lit throughout the entire space, even when only a portion of the room needs lighting for work. Turning on only the light switches needed, using task lighting, or removing bulbs in over-lit areas can resolve this situation. Comfortable lighting levels are usually a matter of preference and acclimation, and overhead lighting may often be reduced by 10 to 20 percent.

Multi-level switches, which are often already installed in rooms, may require labeling so that occupants know how to use them. Researchers can ask someone from Bulb Free for new signage displaying which lights go with which switches, or tags indicating that a bulb has been removed on purpose. Staff can call x2661 and request a de-lamping appointment.

Bulb Free was initiated by the sustainability program Laboratory Resource and Technical Support (LabRATS) and can be viewed online as part of the program overview:
< http://sustainability.ucsb.edu/LARS/programs>.

Every bulb removed will save about $20 a year in electricity and cooling costs. Task lamps cost less than $10 and are available at most department and hardware stores. Free CFLS are available from UCSB’s Green Campus Program at cflswapucsb@gmail.com.