One Change empowers people to believe that simple actions matter and to make smart choices that protect the environment.

Through award-winning campaigns like Project Porchlight, we make energy conservation accessible, relevant, and personal by engaging citizens, community groups, and municipalities to promote simple yet effective changes that have a global impact.

From making the switch to more efficient light bulbs, to using water-saving shower-heads and keeping car tires properly inflated, small changes really can make a big difference.

Together, we'll make smart energy choices that are simple to do, and benefit everyone.

Description:
There’s a common notion that awareness causes action, that doing what is good automatically follows from knowing what is good. But this logic doesn’t hold when people feel that their actions make no difference. Sadly, most people have come to see the critical economic and environmental challenges we face today as too big, too complex to do anything about.

But dis-empowerment often masks a deep longing for change. In fact, the desire to participate in solutions to global problems is nearly universal. The real issue for most people is “What can I do?” In other words, it’s not just about awareness – it’s about believing that simple actions matter.

One Change can tip awareness into action by making simple first steps accessible to all people and by strengthening and connecting diverse communities – particularly those that have been ignored or excluded by mainstream environmentalism, politics and economics. Indeed, we need to empower citizens from every area of society and from across the political spectrum to tackle the twin challenges of climate change and economic disparity. Project Porchlight harnesses the power of social marketing and community-based outreach to do just that.

History:
It all began in the summer of 2004.

Researching energy-efficient refrigerators on the Energy Star website, Project Porchlight founder Stuart Hickox discovered a surprising statistic: If every household in Canada replaced just one incandescent light bulb with a CFL bulb, the reduction in pollution would be the equivalent of taking 66,000 cars off the road.

"How hard can it be to get everyone to change one light bulb?" Stuart wondered.

Stuart joined forces with a couple of friends to create a not-for-profit organization that would bridge the gap between awareness and action. Project Porchlight was born. The team decided to make it possible for people to deliver free energy efficient bulbs in their own neighbourhoods.

In 2005-2006, with the support of Hydro Ottawa and the work of community groups and volunteers, Project Porchlight delivered 225,000 free CFL bulbs to homes across Ottawa. The first Porchlight campaign was a huge success. With everyone from the mayor to young volunteers pitching in to celebrate the advantages of smart energy use, Ottawa showed just how powerful a simple message of change could be when embraced by a community.

With the success of the Ottawa campaign, requests from other communities poured in and sponsors saw an opportunity to show their commitment. The One Change organization was founded in 2006 to help bring Porchlight to communities across North America and to spearhead practical, community-based environmental initiatives.

Today, Project Porchlight is active in over 300 communities in New Jersey, British Columbia, Vermont, Saskatchewan and Alberta. Over 10,000 volunteers are currently engaged in an effort to deliver nearly 2,000,000 energy efficient bulbs.

Contact people:

Quincey Xavier, Volunteer Coordinator, (phone), (email) Sheila Vaughan, Program Coordinator, (phone), (email)

Address:

131 Roseland Ave Caldwell, NJ 07006 (See a map)