Saving Money and Energy

"New power plants and transmission wires aren’t the best answer to the nation’s growing electricity demands and increased threat of blackouts and brownouts during summer heat waves. It’s easier, quicker, cheaper, and cleaner to encourage energy-efficient technologies and peak load management," states Alliance to Save Energy President David M. Nemtzow.

Computers, printers, air conditioners, TVs, VCRs, microwaves -- we’re more "plugged in" than ever before.

"TVs, VCRs, computers, microwaves. We’re more plugged in than ever before. This year on its 30th anniversary, Earth Day 2000 focuses totally on the link between energy and the environment," notes an Alliance to Save Energy Earth Day 2000 video news release that illustrates how consumers in their own homes can easily cut home energy bills and related pollution and emissions.

Amidst a backdrop of soaring gasoline prices and the one-month countdown to Earth Day 2000, the 30^th anniversary of Earth Day (April 22), as half a billion people worldwide focus on energy and its environmental impact, the Alliance to Save Energy offers consumers year-round energy tips to reduce their energy costs and pollution with little effort.

"American drivers are the latest victims of Congress and auto manufacturers’ refusal to help get U.S. oil demand under control. Auto manufacturers are dragging their feet getting fuel-efficient technologies for SUVs and cars into the market place – technologies that would weaken the grip OPEC has on our oil-dependant country – and Congress is letting them get away with it," states Alliance President David M. Nemtzow.

If you replaced just four 100-watt incandescent bulbs that burn four or more hours a day in your home with four 23-watt fluorescent bulbs, you’d get nearly as much light and save at least 452 kilowatt-hours of electricity and $82 over three years. If all our nation’s households did the same, we’d save as much energy and cut as much pollution as is consumed and emitted respectively by some 7 million cars annually!

Did you know that your home probably produces twice as much greenhouse gas emissions — plus more of some air pollutants — than your car? Due to home emissions from such things as furnaces, as well as emissions from power plants that generate your home’s electricity, the average home is responsible for 22,000 pounds of carbon dioxide (CO₂) annually compared to 10,000 for the average car.

"Since 1995, Congress has blocked fuel economy standards more effectively than a convoy of truckers protesting high diesel fuel prices will block roads today in the nation’s capital," states Alliance to Save Energy President David M. Nemtzow, pointing a finger to one of the major causes for high diesel and fuel oil prices. "Congress has consistently refused to increase fuel economy standards.

The Alliance to Save Energy President David M. Nemtzow today commended the Clinton Administration for its FY 2001 budget request offering a combination of increases for energy-efficiency programs, tax credits for efficient homes and cars, and a $200 million Clean Energy Initiative. Nemtzow called on Congress to move quickly to adopt these measures.

With a cold winter on the heels of record-setting summer temperatures and soaring energy bills, a new Alliance to Save Energy multimedia campaign with elements reaching all 50 states spotlights the multiple consumer and environmental benefits of energy efficiency.

Based on market research with homeowners and educators in five states, the national home energy campaign combines TV and radio spots and a print collateral consumer booklet with the power of the web for an animated, interactive touch with streaming audio and video.