Become Energy $avvy to Benefit Pocketbook, Planet, Energy Security

Washington, DC, March 2006 – If you replace four 75-watt incandescent bulbs that burn four or more hours a day in your home with four 23-watt fluorescent bulbs, you will get as much light but also will save more than 2,000 kilowatt-hours of electricity and $190 over the life of the bulbs. If all of our nation’s households did the same, we’d save as much energy as is consumed by some 38 million cars in one year!

That new factoid from the Alliance to Save Energy's updated and redesigned consumer booklet, Power$mart: The Power Is in Your Hands, prompted the Alliance to issue a “4 for the Planet” challenge to the American public for Earth Day, 2006, April 22: Change out four incandescent bulbs for compact fluorescents as a personal, and meaningful, contribution to improving the global environment.

"We call on every American household to purchase four ENERGY STAR-labeled compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) to replace the most used light bulbs in your home. This will benefit your pocketbook and the planet, because while the bulbs will cost a little more, they last 10 times as long and will save significantly more than their price in avoided energy costs," stated Alliance President Kateri Callahan. “If every household did the same, our nation would simultaneously reduce home energy bills, pollution, and greenhouse gas emissions."

Electricity price caps around the country are expiring, and electricity prices are rising to keep up with soaring costs of natural gas and other fuels used to generate electrical power. The Alliance Earth Day 2006 challenge is particularly timely as we move into the summer cooling season, with its increased electricity demands. The Alliance also points out that energy production and use are the prime creators of air pollution (80 percent) and greenhouse gas emissions (83 percent).

To help consumers become more "Energy $avvy" and take additional steps, the Alliance offers helpful money- and energy-saving tips, information, and resources for consumers, kids, and educators for Earth Day 2006 and beyond:

• Alliance consumer website. Find tips to lower your energy bills and other resources at www.ase.org/consumers.
• Fun and learning for kids. Check out www.ase.org/kids with links to lots of other great resources, or become an "Energy Hog Buster" at www.energyhog.org and delve into fun games and learning experiences.
• Energy lesson plans for K-12 teachers. Hands-on, multidisciplinary lesson plans at www.ase.org/section/_audience/educators/lessons.
• Power Is in Your Hands. Great selection of commercial and consumer tips and resources to bring down energy bills provided by 23 companies, government agencies, trade associations, and organizations at www.powerisinyourhands.org.