ITHACA, N.Y. -- New York state consumers can discover ways to improve lighting efficiency in a special distance-learning event Wednesday, May 19, at 7 p.m. at 10 Cornell Cooperative Extension sites throughout the state. The event will feature interactions with experts in residential and small-business lighting energy efficiency.

The Energy Town Meeting, sponsored by Cornell University and the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), will allow consumers to watch presentations over an Internet broadband connection and then ask questions of the experts.

"In recent years, there have been significant advances in lighting technology, such as compact fluorescent light bulbs that use 60 percent less electricity, are suitable for indoor and outdoor use and can be used with dimmer switches," says Joseph Laquatra, the Hazel E. Reed Human Ecology Extension Professor in Family Policy and a lighting expert at Cornell. He and his Cornell colleague, extension associate Mark Pierce, as well as Susan Sowek, a senior project manager and energy efficiency expert at NYSERDA, will discuss new lighting products and demonstrate their efficiency at the event. A special electrical meter will be used to compare the energy consumption of these products. Greg Potter, assistant director of the History Center in Tompkins County, will provide a historical perspective on residential lighting and show participants how much energy early light bulbs used.

The presentation is intended for homeowners, builders, remodelers, architects, interior designers and home performance contractors.

To register and find the closest location to take part in the distance-learning event, contact a local Cornell Cooperative Extension office or Joe Laquatra at (607) 255-2145 or at jl27@cornell.edu .

Related World Wide Web sites: The following sites provide additional information on this news release. Some might not be part of the Cornell University community, and Cornell has no control over their content or availability.

oJoseph Laquatra: http://www.humec.cornell.edu/faculty/facultybio.cfm?netid=jl27&facs=1

oNY State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA): ohttp://www.nyserda.org/