Fall 2008 ENERGY STAR News

EPA Encourages Americans To Save Energy at Home and at Work

EPA is challenging Americans to take steps to fight global warming through the newly expanded ENERGY STAR pledge, a key part of the Change the World, Start with ENERGY STAR campaign.

Already, more than 1.8 million Americans have taken the ENERGY STAR Change a Light Pledge to change at least one light at home to an ENERGY STAR qualified light. EPA is celebrating the 4th annual ENERGY STAR Change a Light Day by challenging Americans to take the newly-expanded ENERGY STAR Pledge and do more to save energy at home and at work.

ENERGY STAR pledge drivers are helping to grow this effort into a national movement by encouraging their employees and communities to take the pledge and by collecting real-life stories about how Americans are making a difference. Some of these stories are featured on the Change the World, Start with ENERGY STAR campaign pages, and pledge drivers are tracking their progress.

EPA’s Change the World, Start with ENERGY STAR Tour kicked off on September 19 in Plano, TX. At each event, consumers are invited to visit an interactive exhibit modeled after an energy-efficient home, where they can learn about energy-efficient products and practices that will help them save in their own homes. Visitors are also encouraged to make a commitment to join the fight against global warming by taking the ENERGY STAR Pledge during their tour. Additionally, they can visit the video testimonial booth and record their individual energy-saving stories by sharing what changes they have already made to help protect the environment.

The Change the World, Start with ENERGY STAR Tour will also visit Morristown, NJ; Atlanta, GA; Topsfield, MA; Chicago, IL and San Francisco, CA. Sponsors include JCPenney, Oncor, Morristown Partnership, CommunityEarth, Georgia Power, Lowe's, Osram Sylvania, National Grid, GE, Midwest Energy Efficiency Alliance, and Pacific Gas and Electric Company.

Learn more information about the Tour and the ENERGY STAR Pledge.

Bring Your Green to Work with ENERGY STAR

Did you know that energy use in commercial buildings and manufacturing plants accounts for nearly half of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions, nearly fifty percent of energy consumption nationwide, and costs a staggering $200 billion for electricity and natural gas each year? EPA recently introduced a new interactive online tool, ENERGY STAR @ work, to provide Americans with tips and information on how to save energy and protect the environment in the workplace. The launch of ENERGY STAR @ work is part of EPA’s Bring Your Green to Work with ENERGY STAR, an effort to encourage organizations and employees across the country to improve the energy performance of the buildings in which they work, shop, play, and learn.

Take a tour of the ENERGY STAR @ work tool to learn how you can make many of the same green choices at work as you make at home to save energy and fight global warming. Employees on every level can make a big difference. Here are a few simple actions:

For employees: Unplug it—unplug electronics such as cell phones and laptops once they are charged. Adapters plugged into outlets use energy even if they are not charging. Use a power strip to turn off all your office electronics at once.

For executives: Take it to your team—to get your organization started on the road to saving energy, EPA recommends a strategic approach that starts with you. Consider instituting an official energy policy, appointing an energy director, and establishing an energy team.

For small businesses: Change your lights—replacing lighting is typically one of the easiest, most cost-effective ways to start making energy efficiency improvements. Replace incandescent light bulbs with ENERGY STAR qualified compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs). CFLs use 75 percent less energy than standard incandescent bulbs to provide the same amount of light, last up to 10 times longer, and generate less heat than conventional light bulbs.

For building managers: Give your building a tune up—regularly examine building equipment, systems, and maintenance procedures to make sure your building is operating as efficiently as possible. Tune up heating equipment; inspect ducts and windows and seal any leaks.

View the full list of tips and obtain more information about Bring Your Green to Work.

Find out what else you can do to help the environment by taking the ENERGY STAR Pledge.

2008 Small Business and Congregations Award Winners Announced

EPA recently named the 13 winners of the 2008 ENERGY STAR Small Business and Congregation Awards. These Award winners have demonstrated how the individual actions of smaller entities, collectively, can achieve significant reductions in both energy costs and greenhouse gas emissions that cause global warming. Combined, the Award winners resulted in savings of more than $160,000 in annual energy costs and an annual reduction in carbon dioxide emissions of more than 860 tons.

“These businesses and congregations are excellent examples of how facilities can respond to rising energy costs, use energy resources more efficiently and cost-effectively, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions while improving their operations and the comfort of their buildings for employees, customers, members, and visitors,” says Jerry Lawson, National Manager of ENERGY STAR for Small Business and Congregations.

2008 Award Winners

Complexions Spa for Beauty & Wellness — Albany, NY. Wellness and beauty treatments.
Evelyn Hill, Inc. — Liberty Island, New York City, NY. Statue of Liberty concessions.
FXFOWLE — New York City, NY. Architecture and planning firm.
Hand Motors — Manchester Center, VT. Auto dealership.
Johnson Braund Design Group — Seattle, WA. Architecture and hotel design.
Lambert Auto Sales — Claremont, NH. Auto dealership.
Long Island Village Realty — Syosset, NY. Residential real estate broker.
National Benefit Service Center, Inc., doing business as City Java — Orlando, FL. Restaurant and food court.
Pine Forest Camp — Greely, PA. A children’s camp.
Priority Communications — DubBois, PA. Radio stations and advertising.
The three congregations winning the award are:
Congregation Or Shalom , Orange, CT.
Dennis Union Church , Dennis, MA.
Sparks United Methodist Church , Sparks, NV.

Organizations can find ENERGY STAR qualified products, free information and tools, and sign up for a free subscription to the monthly ENERGY STAR Small Business or Congregations E-Update. The same information is available for houses of worship.

ENERGY STAR Qualified Televisions Now on Store Shelves

There are about 275 million TVs currently in use in the United States, consuming more than 50 billion kWh of energy each year—or 4 percent of all households' electricity use. This is enough electricity to power all the homes in the state of New York for an entire year. Televisions meeting EPA’s new ENERGY STAR specification are now available in stores.

Even when off, conventional televisions consume electricity. Now ENERGY STAR qualified televisions will be up to 30 percent more efficient than conventional models and will save energy both while they are on and when they are turned off. The revised specification recognizes recent trends, including larger screen sizes and increased daily usage due to a greater range of programming, gaming, and home video options. ENERGY STAR qualified televisions are available in a variety of models including standard, HD-ready, plasma, or LCD flat-screens and offer energy efficiency without sacrificing the quality or performance consumers have come to expect of today TVs.

Consumers can find ENERGY STAR qualified televisions in their area or learn more about the new specification.

Horton and the Mayor Join the Fight Against Global Warming

EPA recently released a 30-second video PSA, featuring characters from the Dr. Seuss film Horton Hears a Who. In the PSA, Horton and his friends join kids across the country in explaining how saving energy helps fight global warming and how ENERGY STAR can help. From taking small steps like turning off the lights when leaving a room to looking for the ENERGY STAR on new purchases, there are many ways to save energy, save money, and help fight global warming. The PSA is also available on YouTube .

View the Horton Hears a Who PSA and other ENERGY STAR PSAs.

Just as Horton saved the Whos,
We must all take steps to protect the environment—we can’t lose!
ENERGY STAR helps Americans save energy and money,
All while fighting global warming, and keeping skies sunny.

Want more information to guide your way?
Visit energystar.gov, or reach out and say ‘Hey.’
Please contact media@energystar.gov or (202) 343-9451
And we’ll bring you in on all the ENERGY STAR fun.