Deep Creek, Eleuthera - Students of Deep Creek Middle School (DCMS) and The Island School successfully exchanged 200 light bulbs in local settlements Tuesday, May 19 for a community information project. The light bulb exchange idea came from two groups of motivated young people who were investigating cost-saving, low polluting environmental alternatives. The students recognized an easy and cheap solution to upgrade energy efficiency by using compact fluorescent light (CFL) bulbs instead of incandescent light bulbs. The estimated carbon savings of the 200 light bulb swap is the reduction of 100 tons of carbon into the atmosphere and a cost savings of $1 per month per bulb.

Students worked collaboratively on their bright idea by developing a proposal and organizing a light bulb exchange in Rock Sound and Wemyss Bight. When few arrived to the table in Wemyss Bight, students walked around house to house explaining the project, resulting in 98 CFL bulbs traded out.

Donations of CFL bulbs were collected by grade 9 DCMS students and a group of 13 Island School students. All CFL bulbs for the first event came from families of Island School students who contributed the lights to offset carbon emitted from traveling to Eleuthera from the United States.

A second light bulb exchange will take place at the Deep Creek Middle School Basketball on May 29^th from 3:30pm to 5:30pm. Everyone is welcome to bring old incandescent light bulbs to exchange for new CFL bulbs. Bulbs are available on a first come, first serve basis.