How many REALTORS® does it take to change a light bulb?

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 18 2008

How many REALTORS® does it take to change a light bulb?
(Sometimes, as many as 5000)

In a multi-pronged “green” effort, the Sacramento Association of REALTORS® is promoting both CFL light bulbs and shade trees throughout Sacramento County, while raising money for its scholarship fund at the same time.

The Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD) partnered with Greenlite, a manufacturer, to provide 40,000 CFL (compact fluorescent light) bulbs to the Sacramento Association of REALTORS® in time for Earth Day. SAR is selling them to its members in its retail store for a minimal price. All money generated by the bulbs is given to the SAR scholarship fund.

“With the help of SMUD and the Sacramento Tree Foundation, area REALTORS® are able to help homeowners save energy inside with the CFL bulbs, and save energy outside – up to 40% on a home’s cooling costs – with properly sited shade trees. The program has been so well received that it will not only save energy, but the proceeds of the CFL sales are contributing significantly to our scholarship fund,” Alan Wagner, President of SAR, said in announcing the program.

REALTORS® give the CFL bulbs to their clients to help encourage them to save energy, Wagner, a REALTOR® with RE/MAX Elk Grove, noted. CFL bulbs use 75% less energy than incandescent bulbs and last six to ten times longer. Many local real estate offices have purchased the CFL bulbs by the case, Wagner said.

Included with the CFL bulbs is information urging homeowners to contact the Sacramento Tree Foundation, which provides trees to area homeowners who are SMUD customers. The Sacramento Tree Foundation will send a community forester to the homeowner’s house to site the trees, and will provide shade trees as well as stakes, ties and advice.

The SAR Scholarship Trust was founded 46 years ago to promote interest in the field of real estate as a career and to develop closer relations between the colleges and the real estate profession. The scholarships will be awarded by SAR on June 3. “We hope to award $20,000 to $30,000 to twenty Sacramento students,” Wagner said. The fund initially provided $100 to $200 scholarships for Sacramento students attending American River Junior College, Sacramento City College and Sacramento State College (now California State University, Sacramento). Over the years SAR has expanded the scholarship program to support students pursuing real estate, business and a variety of other fields at many different institutions across the United States.

In the meantime, area REALTORS® are working to change light bulbs throughout Sacramento County. Of the initial supply from SMUD, more than 2000 have already been distributed.

Contacts:
Sacramento Association of REALTORS®

• Alan Wagner: 685-2500. alan@alanwagner.com
• Janelle Fallan: 437-1208. jfallan@sacrealtor.org

Sacramento Tree Foundation

• Jacobe Caditz: 924-TREE (924-8733). jacobe@sactree.com