Agency contacts: NYSERDA spokesperson:
Mary Ingram Schatz (mary@ingramschatz.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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New Yorkers make a pledge to change their world
State launches campaign to save energy and help protect the environment one small step at a time
ALBANY, NY – October 3, 2007: Governor Eliot Spitzer and the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) today called on all New Yorkers to take a pledge this fall and become more energy efficient at home. To kick off the state’s efforts, Governor Spitzer has officially proclaimed October 3, 2007 ENERGY STAR Change a Light, Change the World Day in New York.
“The citizens of the Empire State take great pride in our rich environmental heritage, sharing a conscientious concern for its preservation. We proudly join in observances that focus on creating a healthier, more economically efficient environment through energy conservation and the wise use of natural resources,” said Governor Eliot Spitzer.
NYSERDA has also made a commitment to collecting 10,000 pledges from New Yorkers who agree to save energy and help protect the environment by using energy more wisely at home. As part of the ENERGY STAR Change a Light, Change the World campaign sponsored nationally by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the New York pledge includes replacing at least one incandescent light bulb with an ENERGY STAR qualified compact fluorescent bulb (CFL).
Additionally, residents can pledge to turn off lights and unplug electronics when not in use, use energy efficient LED holiday lights, and purchase ENERGY STAR qualified appliances. New Yorkers can take the pledge and become a pledge driver by logging on to www.GetEnergySmart.org and clicking on an icon that says, “Take the Pledge Today!”
“What if everybody in New York took the pledge?” asked Paul D. Tonko, president and CEO of NYSERDA. “Lighting accounts for about 20 percent of a home’s electricity use. If we all take little steps like switching to ENERGY STAR qualified lighting, New Yorkers would significantly reduce the State’s overall carbon footprint and save themselves money at the same time. This effort complements the ambitious initiative of Governor Spitzer to reduce energy consumption by 15% by 2015.”
In fact, if each household in NYSERDA’s territory changed one bulb to an ENERGY STAR qualified bulb, New York could prevent more than 562 million pounds of greenhouse gas emissions over the lifetime of the bulbs, the environmental equivalent of taking approximately 40,000 passenger cars off New York’s roads for a full year. New Yorkers could also save more than 365 million kilowatt-hours of electricity and reduce household electrical bills by $56 million per year.
NYSERDA will host “10K Day” on October 23 at Union Square in New York City, where it will report pledge results telethon-style from across the state. The event will also serve as the last stop of the national ENERGY STAR Change a Light Bus Tour, which begins today in Los Angeles. The coast-to-coast bus tour aims to educate as many Americans as possible about the importance of choosing ENERGY STAR qualified lighting as a first step toward saving energy.
“We are thrilled that NYSERDA has stepped forward to host the national bus tour and help us encourage as many people in New York to start saving energy today, starting by changing to energy efficient lighting,” said Wendy Reed, ENERGY STAR Change a Light, Change the World Campaign Manager. “Each American needs to see that they are part of the solution to fight global warming, and we hope this tour will help individuals understand the connection between personal energy use and our climate.”
The EPA’s clean diesel engine bus, provided by Motor Coach Industries (MCI), will drive from the west coast to New York City in 20 days, stopping in eight other cities along the way.
Visit www.GetEnergySmart.org or call 1-877-NY-SMART (1-877-697-6278) for more information about the ENERGY STAR Change a Light Pledge, 10K Day and other energy-saving tips.
The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) uses innovation and technology to solve some of New York's most difficult and environmental problems in ways that improve the State's economy.
About ENERGY STAR:
Established in 1992, ENERGY STAR is a joint program between the United States Environmental Protection Agency and U.S. Department of Energy designed to help save money and protect the environment through energy efficient products and practices.
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