Currents

An Energy Newsletter for Local Governments

EPA and DOE Campaigns to Save Energy

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) launched the annual "Energy Star Change a Light, Change the World Campaign" in October, urging U.S. consumers to change at least one light in their home with one that carries an Energy Star label. If every U.S. household does that, the country will save $600 million in energy bills, save enough energy to light 7 million homes, and prevent greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to the emissions from 1 million cars. DOE and EPA named October 5th as "Energy Star Change a Light Day" and were joined by governors of 29 states, plus the governor of the Northern Mariana Islands.

According to a new annual report from EPA, Energy Star and other voluntary programs reduced U.S. energy bills by nearly $10 billion in 2004, while avoiding 57 million metric tons of greenhouse gases and saving enough energy to power 25 million homes. More than 1.5 billion Energy Star products have been purchased, while more than 2,500 builders have constructed more than 360,000 Energy Star homes. Starting next July, though, homes will have to meet higher energy efficiency standards to earn the Energy Star label. (note: in California, new Title 24 Standards took effect in October, see story above.)

DOE also unveiled a comprehensive national campaign to highlight ways to save energy in response to rising winter energy costs. Called "Easy Ways to Save Energy," the campaign consists of a three-pronged strategy aimed at energy efficiency and conservation measures for consumers, for business and industry, and for government facilities.

For consumers, DOE will distribute nationwide a newly updated guide, "Energy Savers: Tips on Saving Energy & Money at Home." This guide contains dozens of easy, and often inexpensive, ways to help consumers save energy in their homes and to lower utility bills. DOE is also making this guide available to manufacturers, retailers, and local utilities to reprint and distribute widely. See the online version of the guide at
http://www.eere.energy.gov/consumer/tips/.

DOE and the Alliance to Save Energy (ASE) are also unveiling a series of radio public service announcements (PSAs) to provide consumers with easy tips to save energy and gasoline. These PSAs have been recorded in both English and Spanish and will be distributed to nearly 4,500 radio stations across the country. The radio spots will complement DOE's ongoing Energy Hog campaign, carried out in partnership with ASE, the Ad Council, the Home Depot, and the North American Insulation Manufacturers Association. DOE will soon begin the next phase of the Energy Hog campaign with ads in newspapers and magazines, as well as on billboards all over the country. Top DOE leaders will also travel the country over the next several months to discuss how U.S. families can save money and energy this winter. See the Web sites for Energy Hog http://www.energyhog.org/ and the Partnerships for Home Energy Efficiency http://www.energysavers.gov.

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