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Rep. Benefield Helps "Green the House" |
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COLORADO
HOUSE COMMUNICATIONS OFFICE
STATE CAPITOL
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 6, 2007
For more information:
Emily Arell: (303) 866-2474
Rep. Benefield: (303) 425-1360
HOW MANY ELECTED OFFICIALS DOES IT TAKE TO
CHANGE A LIGHT BULB?
Rep. Benefield Helps “Green the House”
![greening the house [3]](images/stories/greening%20the%20house%20[3].jpg "greening the house [3]")
DENVER State leaders, including Representative Debbie Benefield (D-Westminster) were instrumental in transforming the State Capitol into a “Green House”by changing the light bulbs in the House chamber’s chandelier earlier this week. The conventional incandescent light bulbs were removed, recycled and replaced-with the help of Rep. Benefield- with compact fluorescents. The move prompted jokes from onlookers as to ‘just how many legislators it takes to change a light bulb.’
All joking aside, the light bulb switch, which highlighted the replacement of not only the 65 bulbs in the ornate brass chandelier, but all the bulbs throughout the Capitol building, will have huge energy and cost savings.
Compact fluorescents last more than ten times as long as the old incandescent bulbs and significantly reduce the amount of carbon emissions released into the environment. Over the next 10 years, carbon emissions will be reduced by 692,904 pounds, the equivalent of taking over 100 cars off the road and will save Colorado taxpayers more than $17,000 annually.
“I am proud to say that we as lawmakers are walking our talk. Everybody, including us, can do their part to help make Colorado a greener state”, said Rep. Benefield. Last year, Rep. Benefield supported HB-1281 to reduce the state’s reliance on coal and promote cleaner sources of energy.
The 1500-pound, pure brass chandelier is lowered each December for cleaning in anticipation for January when lawmakers return for the 2008 legislative session. “I am looking forward to bringing new energy to Colorado while working in a brighter, greener house chamber.”
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RELATED READING
Facts about the House Chandelier
- 1500 pounds, pure brass chandelier
- 65 light bulbs (sometimes we tell school kids that there is one for each representative!)
- original to the building (started in 1886 - completed in 1908)
- identical to the one in the Senate chambers
- It is lowered each year in December (before session) for cleaning and to replace every bulb. It takes two custodial workers, stationed up in the attic area directly above the front desk and Speakers podium, 20-30 minutes to lower it by hand using a pulley system.
- It takes one week to replace all the bulbs, as well as to clean and dust the entire fixture by hand. Every other year the brass is actually polished; the full cleaning and polishing process takes two weeks.
- Upon completion it takes about 45 minutes to raise it back up by hand. They have to raise and lower it extremely carefully as to not lose control of it due to its heavy weight.
- Architectural specs originally called for the chandelier to be wired for electricity (which was just beginning to be used and was fairly unstable) as well as outfitted for gas lighting which was the norm for the time. At the time (around 1908), the capitol's architect wasn't sure if electricity was here to stay or just a passing fad. You can still see the original gas fittings on the chandelier today (they look like little candles).
Why We're Changing the Lightbulbs
By simply changing the light bulbs in the capitol chandeliers:
- We'll reduce energy consumption by 24,180 kilowatt hours per year
- We'll reduce carbon emissions by 49,920 pounds annually
- We'll save $28,530 (over 10 years)
By changing all the lights in the capitol:
- We'll reduce our energy consumption by more than 335,000 kilowatt hours per year. That's the equivalent of powering 40 homes for a full year.
- We'll reduce carbon emissions by 692,904 pounds. That's the equivalent of taking 107 cars off the road entirely.
- We'll save $292,790 (over 10 years). That's real savings.
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