The first Sunday of Advent is December 4, 2007. Hanukkah begins December 14. Deepen your observation of Advent or Hanukkah by connecting these ancient candle-lighting traditions to environmental stewardship with Texas Interfaith Power & Light's study guides, One for Each Night (Hanukkah) and Preparing for a New Light (Advent). Each study guide includes scripture passages, prayers, and information on energy and the environment.
The Gift That Keeps On Giving
Like the stories of light behind our holidays, the gift of CFLs continues to give back all year long by saving energy, pollution, and money. Replacing five incandescent bulbs with five CFLs will save approximately $53 a year on energy bills and prevent about 935 pounds of carbon dioxide pollution from release to the atmosphere. Changing eight bulbs will save approximately $84 a year and prevent about 1,496 pounds of CO2 pollution. That's a lot of gelt!
Texas Interfaith Power & Light provides the guide, you provide the CFLs.
You’ll need a new CFL for each night of candle-lighting and the corresponding study guide. Follow these easy steps to start a new holiday tradition in your own home, or make CFL Holiday kits to give to friends and family.
Make Your Own Holiday CFL Kits in Five Easy Steps
- Download the guide for your celebration: One For Each Night (Hanukkah), Preparing For a New Light (Advent)
- Purchase the requisite number of Compact Fluorescent Lightbulbs-- eight for Hanukkah and five for Advent. You can purchase the most popular wattage CFLs online for about $3.15 each (plus shipping) at ShopIPL.org. Click here to go right to the CFL page and be sure to enter the discount code (ShopIPL) at checkout to take the TXIPL 10% discount. ShopIPL is also a great resource for LED holiday light strings. You can also purchase CFLs at a local store.
- Wrap it up. If you are giving the kits as gifts, you will want to keep with the theme by choosing a wrap that is useful or can be recycled easily. We recommend a cloth grocery bag. If you are using the kit in your own home and do not need to wrap it, simply store your CFLs until it’s time to begin your celebration.
- Celebrate. After lighting the menorah or Advent wreath, choose a location for your new CFL and install it. Read that night’s selection from the Study Guide. And don’t forget the light bulb jokes!
- Don’t stop there. Let the new light bulb be just the beginning of your action. Think about other little things you could do for the Earth in preparation for the holidays.
For more information on CFLs, click here.
Please call or email TXIPL if you have questions or suggestions.