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Want More Money in Your Pocket during the Holiday Season?

Release Date: 12/9/2003
Contact Information: Bonnie Smith, 215-814-5543

Bonnie Smith, 215-814-5543

PHILADELPHIA – U.S. Environmental Protection Agency suggests holiday shoppers look for the Energy Star logo when buying holiday gifts that use electricity, because energy efficient products can save money and energy.

The ENERGY STAR logo identifies equipment and appliances with superior energy efficiency. These products can reduce costs without compromising quality.

“ENERGY STAR products are a great way to put Mother Earth on your gift list, prevent pollution, and save money on your electric bills all year long. What could be better than that?” says EPA Regional Administrator Donald S. Welsh.

Most of the electricity we use is produced by fossil fuels like coal, oil and natural gas. When burned, these fuels release air pollutants that cause smog, acid rain and respiratory disease. Carbon dioxide emissions from energy use accelerate the greenhouse effect which causes global climate change.

Saving 10,000 kilowatt hours per year prevents 55 pounds of nitrogen oxides, 128 pounds of sulfur dioxide, and 7.5 tons of carbon dioxide from being released into the atmosphere, reducing smog, acid rain and the impact to climate. The carbon dioxide reductions are the equivalent to planting two acres of trees.

Manufacturers whose products meet federal energy efficiency criteria use the ENERGY STAR label which can now be found on more than 40 products for home and office. Last year, six of the top seven home electronic products on holiday wish lists were available in ENERGY STAR qualified models. The website www.energystar.gov contains a list of products and stores where you can find them.

The amount of energy consumed by home electronics when they are not in use is the equivalent to the annual output of six power plants. If all Americans purchased only ENERGY STAR- labeled TVs and VCRs, the reduction in air pollution would be the equivalent of taking one million cars off the road.

ENERGY STAR-labeled TVs require three watts or less of power when switched off -- an energy savings of up to 75 percent over conventional models, which consume as much as 12 watts while off. Energy Star-labeled VCRs require four watts or less of power when switched off -- an energy savings of up to 70 percent over conventional models which consume as much as 13 watts when switched off.

ENERGY STAR-labeled computers, monitors, printers and fax machines power down to a "sleep" mode when not in use. Any action such as the movement of the mouse, a keyboard stroke, an incoming message, fax or print job reactivates the equipment. Because of the “sleep” mode, Energy Star-labeled equipment uses only about half the electricity as standard equipment, resulting in less pollution, lower electric bills and longer equipment life.

Energy efficient lighting is an important part of the mix, too. Through a Change a Light, Change the World campaign, EPA, the Department of Energy, and hundreds of ENERGY STAR partners are encouraging Americans to replace their highest use light bulbs and fixtures.

If every U.S. household replaced the light bulbs in their five most frequently used fixtures, with ENERGY STAR models, each household would save more than $60 a year in energy costs. The action would also save the energy equivalent to the annual output of 20 power plants and keep more than one trillion pounds of greenhouse gases out of the air.

To learn more, see the ins and outs of the new ENERGY STAR website at http://www.energystar.gov or call 1-888-STAR-YES (888-782-7937). The mid-Atlantic regional ENERGY STAR coordinator is Mindee Osno, 215-814-2074.

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