EERE Network News - 10/11/06

In celebration of Energy Awareness Month, DOE and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) kicked off the annual "Change a Light, Change the World" campaign last week. The campaign encourages U.S. residents to replace a conventional bulb or fixture in their home or workplace with one that has earned the government's Energy Star label for energy efficiency. If every U.S. household changed a single light bulb to an Energy Star bulb, it would save enough power to light more than 2.5 million homes. Energy Secretary Samuel Bodman took the "Change a Light" pledge last week, and challenged DOE's 120,000 employees to join him.

Products that have earned the Energy Star label save energy and prevent greenhouse gas emissions by meeting strict energy efficiency guidelines set by EPA and DOE. The Energy Star program works with more than 8,000 private and public sector organizations. Many of these organizations will help celebrate the "Change A Light, Change The World" campaign with activities, events, government proclamations, and store promotions showcasing energy-efficient lighting. U.S. residents are invited to join the more than 110,000 people who have pledged to replace at least one light at home.

October is Energy Awareness Month, and this year, the theme is "Energy Independence Depends on US—Choose Wisely, Use Wisely." The theme, set by DOE's Federal Energy Management Program (FEMP), emphasizes the impact that our energy choices and use can have on securing U.S. energy independence. To support the theme, FEMP created a downloadable mosaic poster comprised of thousands of photos of energy champions (can you spot Alexander Karsner, the DOE Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy?). FEMP also created a variety of other promotional materials. For more information, see the FEMP Web site.

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