Author: Curtis Judy
Planning Unit: Todd County CES
Major Program: Promoting Healthy Homes and Communities (general)
Plan of Work: Energy Conservation and Recycling
Outcome: Initial Outcome
Homemakers Clubs in the Pennyrile Extension Area requested a lesson on LED (Light Emitting Diode) lighting for this program year; and Todd County Family and Consumer Sciences Agent Jill Harris was assigned to teach the lesson. Because there is not a lot of readily available, in-depth information on LED bulbs, Ms. Harris decided to utilize a set of LED educational materials that I had developed for a local LED lighting class in 2017. In preparation for Ms. Harris’s classes, I reworked the PowerPoint presentation to include the latest technical information and current bulb prices, and worked with her to create handout materials appropriate for the Homemaker audiences.
These lesson materials were designed to help homeowners understand the benefits of LEDs (long life, energy efficiency, instant full brightness, contain no mercury, available in many sizes, shapes, & colors, etc.) as well as their disadvantages (extreme directionality, sensitivity to heat, higher purchase prices (particularly for the 75 and 100 “watt-equivalent” bulbs), and higher short-term failure rates compared to incandescent and CFL bulbs). Participants (particularly older clients) were also encouraged to explore bulbs with light temperatures (or “colors”) other than “soft white” for some of the living spaces in their homes. Bright white and daylight-color bulbs can enhance clarity of vision, which can be especially helpful for people who are experiencing age-related vision deterioration.
Lighting affects everyone in the household, from young children to elderly. Home lighting impacts the economics of the household as well comfort, aesthetics, and safety. Since LEDs are the newest type of lighting in the consumer market, Ms. Harris' teaching this lesson to Extension Homemakers in the nine-county Pennyrile Area was a wonderful educational opportunity. Her initial, intermediate and long-term goals/outcomes of the LED lighting class anticipate that participants will:
Ms. Harris administered end-of-training evaluations to everyone who attended the program; with surveys being completed by 53 people. The evaluation measured initial outcomes of participants.
Eighty-six percent of respondents reported they currently use LEDs in their homes, with approximately 50% of the light bulbs they use being LEDs. They reported currently using a combination of incandescent, CFL, and LED bulbs. Additional survey results revealed:
A follow-up evaluation is planned for 3-6 months after the program.
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