Energy Hog Finds New Home at Alliance to Save Energy
Washington, D.C., July 6, 2005 – A black-leather-jacket-wearing, half-human/half-hog creature has moved in to the Alliance to Save Energy’s Washington, DC, headquarters. The dastardly Energy Hog character is bent on wasting energy and is the “spokesvillian” for the Ad Council’s campaign to raise awareness about the importance of energy efficiency and using energy wisely.
“I’m moving in, but don’t want no trouble,” the Energy Hog grunted and snorted “I just wanna stir things up a bit in my new digs.”
Joining the ranks of other famous Ad Council character icons such as Smoky Bear and McGruff the Crime Dog, the Energy Hog is featured in TV and radio public service advertisements (PSAs) for “tweens” ages 8-13 and will soon be featured in newspaper, magazine, and out-of-home PSAs targeted to adults. In its first year alone, the campaign garnered more than $31 million in donated advertising time and space, putting it into the “Top 10” campaign of all current Ad Council campaigns. The website, www.energyhog.org, gets more than 50,000 unique visitors each month, as kids train to become Energy Hog Busters.
The campaign is designed to raise awareness of the benefits of reducing our demand for energy. Although energy prices are rising, consumers can take simple steps to reduce their home energy bills.
The Alliance to Save Energy has partnered with the Ad Council to become the new non-profit sponsor of the campaign, following its origin at Energy Outreach Colorado. The Alliance will expand the campaign to include additional outreach to schools through its respected Green Schools program and expand the web site to provide a one-stop site where adults can learn ways to reduce home energy bills.
The campaign is supported by the U.S. Department of Energy, The Home Depot, the North American Insulation Manufacturers Association, and 18 state energy offices. School programs featuring a “live” Energy Hog (a professional mascot in costume) are ongoing in Minnesota, Colorado, Wyoming, and Kansas.
