"Change a Light, Change the World"
Theme of New EPA ENERGY STAR® Campaign

By Bill Goodwill

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is joining with retailers, manufacturers, and utilities across America to challenge the nation to Change a Light, Change the World, launching a campaign to teach consumers about the benefits of energy-efficient lighting products as part of its ENERGY STAR program.

ENERGY STAR and its partners will show every person in the nation that changing just one light bulb can save energy, money, and help the environment. By delivering energy savings to organizations that can benefit from lower energy bills, such as, schools, low-income homes, and local charities, ENERGY STAR partners are making energy efficiency available to communities in need while showing how easy it is for all communities to benefit from energy efficiency.

"Change a Light, Change the World embodies the EPA's commitment to building voluntary partnerships between communities, businesses, and the government," said Christie Whitman, Administrator of the US Environmental Protection Agency. "If every U.S. household changed the lighting in one room of their home to ENERGY STAR, we would save up to 857 billion kWh of energy, and keep one trillion pounds of greenhouse gases out of the air. "

"If every household in the U.S. changed the lighting in one room of their home to ENERGY STAR, our annual energy savings alone would be equivalent to the annual output of more than 21 power plants and our annual savings could power more than 4 million homes for one year."

Christie Whitman
Administrator
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

During the campaign, participating partners will make ENERGY STAR qualified lighting products, such as ceiling fans and compact fluorescent lamps available through local, regional, and national promotions. These promotions, which vary from region to region, will include rebates, sales, and turn-in events where consumers can exchange standard lighting fixtures for discounts on energy-efficient ones.

FAST FACTS ON ENERGY STAR

• ENERGY STAR light bulbs and fixtures use up to 75% less energy than standard lighting products.

• A typical household spends about $90 per year, or 10 to 15 percent of its annual electric bill, on lighting.

• An ENERGY STAR light bulb that is used for an average of 4 hours per day will last for more than 4 years before it needs to be replaced.

• In addition to lighting, more than 30 product categories feature the ENERGY STAR label.

• ENERGY STAR lighting products typically are up to 75 percent more efficient than standard products but give off the same light output and last up to 10 times longer than standard incandescent bulbs.

Change a Light, Change the World is part of a larger ENERGY STAR educational effort to teach businesses and consumers the importance of using energy wisely. This campaign includes print, television, and radio PSAs that have been distributed to thousands of media outlets nationwide.

ENERGY STAR, jointly managed by EPA and the US Department of Energy, offers consumers an easy way to identify energy-efficient appliances, electronics, office equipment, lighting, heating and cooling equipment, buildings, and homes. For more information about ENERGY STAR and Change a Light, Change the World, visit Visit www.energystar.gov or call 1-888-STAR-yes to learn more.