Oct 16 2005
DOE and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) launched the annual "Energy Star Change a Light, Change the World Campaign" on October 5th, 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.
The EPA is also taking energy savings to heart. In response to President Bush's recent directive to all federal agencies on energy conservation, EPA is taking immediate actions to conserve natural gas, electricity, gasoline, and diesel fuel in all its buildings in Washington, D.C. The EPA is adjusting the temperatures in its buildings to an average of 68 degrees, removing unnecessary light bulbs in some of its hallways, turning off the historic fountains in the courtyard areas, and limiting the courtyard lighting at night and turning it off during the day.