2008
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Agency contacts: NYSERDA spokesperson:
Mary Ingram Schatz (mary@haggman.com) Colleen Ryan (cqr@nyserda.org)
Phone: 212-600-4469 Phone: 866-NYSERDA ext. 3359
www.getenergysmart.org
Gayle Dougherty (gayle@haggman.com)
Phone: 978-525-3742
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OVER 10,000 NEW YORKERS TAKE LITTLE STEPS TO SAVE BIG FOR THE ENVIRONMENT
NYSERDA exceeds 10K goal and earns top ranking among national leaders of the ENERGY STAR® Change a Light, Change the World Campaign
Albany, NY – January 14, 2008: New York residents care about the environment and are pledging to reduce their environmental impact in record numbers. The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) inspired 10,456 residents to take the first steps towards energy efficiency by participating in the Environmental Protection Agency’s ENERGY STAR® Change a Light, Change the World Campaign.
“We are tremendously proud to exceed our State’s pledge goal for the 2007 ENERGY STAR Change a Light, Change the World Campaign. We are thankful to every person who pledged to change at least one standard light bulb in their homes to an ENERGY STAR qualified compact fluorescent light bulb,” said NYSERDA President and CEO Paul D. Tonko. “The campaign has complemented Governor Spitzer’s efforts to reduce energy consumption 15 percent by 2015 and proves that when we work together, we have the power to make a tremendous impact.”
In fact, New York residents replaced 101,018 incandescent light bulbs with ENERGY STAR qualified compact fluorescent bulbs, saving over 28 million kilowatt hours of power each year and preventing more than 41 million pounds of greenhouse gas emissions from entering the atmosphere. These efforts will save New Yorkers more than $2.6 million on their electric bills.
NYSERDA is currently ranked as the seventh largest pledge driver among 1,073 organizations across the country that are participating in the campaign. In addition to taking a pledge to change to energy efficient lighting, thousands of New Yorkers have also pledged to take additional steps at home to save energy. New Yorkers also pledged to unplug home electronics, upgrade holiday lighting to energy efficient LED lights, turn off lights when they leave a room, and to purchase only appliances that have earned the ENERGY STAR.
“We know that New York residents are passionate about the state and the environment, so we offered additional options for those who wanted to do even more than switch to efficient lighting,” Tonko said.
In addition to collecting more than 3,000 pledges at the ENERGY STAR Change a Light Bus Tour in New York City on October 23, NYSERDA recruited organizations across the State to become pledge drivers, with South Bronx Overall Economic Development Corporation (SoBRO), the Village of Nassau, and Taitem Engineering turning in the most pledges. NYSERDA collected the rest of the pledges at several community events throughout November and December, through visitors to the GetEnergySmart.org web site, grassroots canvassing and employee outreach.
NYSERDA uses innovation and technology to solve some of New York's most difficult energy and environmental problems in ways that improve the State's economy. Visit www.GetEnergySmart.org or call 1-877-NY-SMART (1-877-697-6278) to learn more ways to save energy.
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SIDE BAR
New York residents can still take small steps to generate big savings. Here are five simple ways to save energy at home and help protect the environment:
- Replace the five most-used incandescent light bulbs in a house with ENERGY STAR® qualified compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs), and save approximately $60 annually. CFLs use 75 percent less energy and last 10 times longer.
- Home electronics, such as VCRs, DVD players, CD players and cell phone chargers, use 75 percent of their energy when they are in the “off” position. Unplug seldom-used items from the wall or plug all home electronics into a power strip and turn off the power strip when leaving. Also use electronics that have earned the ENERGY STAR and use up to 50 percent less energy than other electronics.
- Upgrade decorative or holiday lighting with energy-efficient Light Emitting Diode (LED) Holiday Lighting strands. LED Holiday Lighting strands last up to 11 holiday seasons, rarely burn out and will save up to $100 per year on an energy bill!
- Turn off the lights when leaving home or leaving a room. There is no need to pay to light rooms that are not being used. This one of the easiest ways to reduce global climate change and lower monthly bills.
- Purchase appliances that have earned the ENERGY STAR. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Department of Energy (DOE) label the most efficient appliances, such as refrigerators, clothes washers, dryers, and air conditioners so that consumers can easily find appliances that will help reduce monthly energy bills and reduce environmental impact.
To be counted among those New York residents working to protect the environment, pledge to take these steps at www.getenergysmart.org.
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