DOE Kicks Off National “Change a Light, Change the World” Campaign

U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Assistant Secretary for Policy and International Affairs Karen A. Harbert today joined Georgia Power President and CEO Mike Garrett to kick off the seventh annual ENERGY STAR ® National “Change a Light, Change the World” campaign at Georgia Power headquarters.  The “Change a Light” campaign is a national call-to-action by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and DOE encouraging all Americans to help change the world, one light — one energy-saving step — at a time.  The “Change a Light” campaign runs from October 4 – November 30.

“Small changes to our daily energy habits can go a long way in ensuring the country’s energy security, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and saving consumers money,” Assistant Secretary Harbert said.  “I encourage everyone to sign the pledge, replace one standard light bulb with an ENERGY STAR ® qualified compact fluorescent light bulb, and help save energy.”

The focal point of the campaign is an ENERGY STAR ® “Change a Light” pledge whereconsumers pledge to replace at least one standard light bulb in their home with an ENERGY STAR ® qualified compact fluorescent light bulb (CFL).  This year’s goal is to encourage at least 500,000 individuals to take this pledge nationwide.  If every household in America changed one bulb to a CFL, combined efforts would save 5.6 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity per year or $526 million a year in electric expenses.

CFL light bulbs use 2/3 less energy than standard incandescent light bulbs and last up to ten times longer.  Replacing a 60-watt incandescent with a 13-watt CFL can save consumers at least $30 in energy costs over the life of the bulb.  CFLs last longer and come in different sizes and shapes to fit almost any fixture.  Additionally, CFLs produce about 70% less heat than standard incandescent bulbs, so they are safer to operate.  When consumers replace light bulbs or entire light fixtures in their homes with CFLs that have earned the ENERGY STAR ® label, they help preserve energy resources and contribute to a cleaner environment while saving money and time buying and change lights in their homes.

For the past seven years, DOE and the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) “Change-a-Light, Change-the-World” program have encouraged consumers to save energy and money by installing compact fluorescent light bulbs.  Pledges taken in 2005 have the potential to reduce more than 33 million pounds of greenhouse gas emissions.  DOE and EPA have spread the word by contacting Members of Congress, Governors and state energy and local officials to join the campaign by encouraging their constituents to participate.

Visit ENERGY STAR for more information or to obtain campaign fact sheets and pledge forms.

Via:(Solar Energy International, US Department of Energy)