Gov.
Blagojevich encourages Illinoisans to save money and conserve energy
with Energy Star Change a Light, Change the World
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Governor
encourages Illinoisans to switch to energy-efficient lighting to
save money and conserve energy
[OCT. 6, 2005]
CHICAGO -- In an effort to help conserve energy,
save money and reduce greenhouse emissions, Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich
is encouraging Illinoisans to participate in
Energy Star Change a Light,
Change the World Day. Illinoisans are being asked to pledge to
change one light at home to an energy-efficient model.
"Lighting accounts for nearly 20
percent of the electricity we use at home," Blagojevich said.
"Switching to energy-efficient lighting is an easy step we can take
to make a difference for our energy resources and our environment,
while saving money on energy bills today. I am urging all
Illinoisans to take the Energy Star Change a Light Pledge with me."
If every household in Illinois pledges to replace one light bulb
with an Energy Star-certified compact fluorescent bulb, the change
would save more than $31 million in energy costs and prevent more
than 513 million pounds of greenhouse gas emissions, equivalent to
taking nearly 47,000 cars off the road.
Illinois residents can take the pledge at
energystar.gov/changealight. Citizens are encouraged to switch to light fixtures or bulbs that
have earned the Energy Star label, which designates products that
prevent greenhouse gas emissions by meeting strict energy-efficiency
criteria set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and U.S.
Department of Energy.
Qualifying energy-efficient light bulbs use two-thirds less
energy than standard bulbs and last six to 10 times longer.
Blagojevich is joining with the federal government and 24 other
governors across the country to celebrate Energy Star Change a
Light, Change the World Day and bring attention to the importance of
using energy wisely at home.
This commemorative day is the official kickoff of the national
Change a Light, Change the World educational campaign, led by
the federal government. The campaign encourages Americans to take a
simple action to help preserve our energy resources and protect our
environment -- to switch to energy-efficient lighting. The national
educational campaign is run in partnership with hundreds of retail
stores, manufacturers, energy-efficiency organizations and state
governments. The campaign takes place each October, during Energy
Awareness Month, and around the transition to daylight-saving time.
Illinois residents who take the Energy Star Pledge will have
access to special promotions being offered by Energy Star partners,
including:
From GE, good only at Wal-Mart, limited quantities --
Two-for-one coupon toward the purchase of Energy Star-qualified
light bulbs.
From The Home Depot and manufacturer Commercial Electric --
Sweepstakes to win energy bill paid for a year and more.
From Seagull Lighting and Progress Lighting -- Several
national deals on Energy Star-qualified fixtures.
The Energy Star proclamation builds on the governor's continuing
effort to bring down the costs of energy for consumers in Illinois:
Last week, Blagojevich and 27 other governors from across
the country sent a letter to U.S. congressional leadership and
house appropriations leaders urging them to include $1.276
billion in Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program funds in
the next supplemental funding request as part of the nation's
response to Hurricane Katrina.
Last month, the governor appointed a special director of
emergency energy assistance to marshal resources from the public
and private sectors and to coordinate assistance to vulnerable
populations impacted by record-high heating costs. The special
director will launch an awareness campaign to notify the public
about how to stay warm and healthy during the coldest months and
measures they can take to make their homes energy-efficient and
reduce heating costs. The special director will work with
utilities, the Illinois Commerce Commission and other state
agencies to ensure the public's best interest is protected this
winter. Blagojevich encourages all households to act now to
prepare for this winter by improving the energy efficiency of
their homes.
Get heating equipment tuned up for winter to make sure it's
performing well.
Replace air filters regularly in heating equipment.
Make sure you have sufficient insulation.
Use caulk and weatherstripping to seal up air leaks in
attic, basement, and around doors and windows because even small
air leaks lead to large energy bills.
Set your thermostat comfortably low in the winter. Install a
programmable thermostat that is compatible with your heating
system. A programmable thermostat ensures that you are not using
too much energy while sleeping or away for the day
Lower the thermostat on your hot water heater to 120 degrees
F.
Look for energy-efficient Energy Star products. Remember,
energy efficiency is about doing the same or more while using
less energy -- not about sacrifice.
The governor also called on the Illinois utility companies
to help maximize the effectiveness of the Low Income Home Energy
Assistance Program by waiving administrative reconnection fees
and security deposits for customers participating in the
program. In the past, LIHEAP funds have been used first to cover
utilities' administrative reconnection fees and security
deposits, which can cost more than $400. The governor asked
utilities to waive such fees so that grant funds go directly to
cover actual usage charges, allowing the state to help more
households cover heating costs.
Text of the governor's proclamation:
WHEREAS, energy
efficiency is important to our State, because it saves consumers and
businesses money, and helps protect the environment, because it
lessens greenhouse gas emissions and reduces air pollution; and
WHEREAS, along with
all the nation's Governors, my administration is committed to
maintaining secure, safe and affordable energy resources for
citizens of our State; and
WHEREAS, by taking
the ‘Energy Star Change a Light Pledge' – Illinois citizens have the
opportunity to both save energy and help to voluntarily reduce
greenhouse gas emissions by switching to energy efficient lighting
products in their homes; and
WHEREAS, if every
household in Illinois pledges to replace one light bulb with an
Energy Star certified compact fluorescent bulb, the change would
save more than $31 million in energy costs and prevent more than 513
million pounds of greenhouse gas emissions, equivalent to taking
nearly 47,000 cars off the road; and
WHEREAS, Illinois
is proud to join 24 other states in doing our part for this
nationwide effort, celebrating this day – Energy Star Change a Light
Day -- to promote energy efficiency and environmental stewardship in
every household, by changing a single light:
NOW THEREFORE, I,
Rod R. Blagojevich, Governor of the State of Illinois, do hereby
accept this Pledge and proclaim October 5, 2005 as Energy Star
CHANGE A LIGHT, CHANGE THE WORLD DAY in Illinois to encourage all
Illinoisans to make this important change.
