[1]ENERGY STAR is a program of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency that helps us save money and protect the environment and our health through energy-efficient products and practices. In 2011 alone, Americans, with the help of ENERGY STAR, saved enough energy to avoid greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to those from 41 million cars — all while saving $23 billion on their utility bills and reducing the pollution that contributes to heart disease, asthma and allergies.
Sounds as though we’ve made quite a difference, but there’s still plenty to do. Climate change [2] continues to be a very real concern and childhood illnesses, including asthma and cancer [3], are on the rise. Team ENERGY STAR [4] is asking that we get our children involved and encourage them to save energy at home-because we all know the future is in their hands.
Take the pledge
I joined Team ENERGY STAR [4] and my hope is that you’ll join too (it takes a few seconds and there’s no charge).
Team ENERGY STAR is a new, exciting initiative from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s ENERGY STAR program, developed to engage and educate American youth and their families about saving energy in the home. Team ENERGY STAR empowers kids to help protect the climate through easy-to-implement, money-saving actions and provides them an outlet for sharing their passion for preserving our environment. And, with Dr. Seuss’ the Lorax as the engaging theme for Team ENERGY STAR, kids can learn and have fun at the same time.
Being part of the team involves the following simple steps:
Take steps to reduce your energy use at home
- Help your family and friends save energy
- Encourage your family and friends to take the ENERGY STAR Pledge
- Inspire others by sharing your story
Once you join you will be given access to Team Energy Star. You’ll receive:
- A Team ENERGY STAR certificate of participation-a guide for saving energy at home, including Energy-Saving Tips and Tools, the ENERGY STAR Home Check-Up, and the ENERGY STAR Pledge.
- Energy efficiency games to play with your kids
- Become a Lorax mustache kit-you’ll have to join to see what this is!
- An activity booklet filled with fun games and a poster that you can color in and display at home to remind your family about ways to save energy.
Energy Facts: Did you know……
- The average house is responsible for more than 25,000 pounds of greenhouse gas emissions per year, about twice as much as the average car.
- Electricity demand for U.S. homes is expected to climb by as much as 18 percent by 2035.
- The typical household spends more than $2,100 per year on energy bills. With ENERGY STAR, you can save over one-third, or more than $700 on your household energy bills.
- If every American household took the actions found in the Change the World, Start with ENERGY STAR Pledge, we would save more than126 billion KWh/year of electricity and save $18 billion in annual energy costs. We would prevent greenhouse gases equivalent to the emissions from 20 million cars.
- This year, EPA is proud to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the ENERGY STAR program. For two decades, ENERGY STAR has helped millions of Americans and thousands of businesses save energy, save money and protect the climate.
- Today, ENERGY STAR is one of the most well-known brands in the country, with over 80% of Americans recognizing it as the symbol of superior energy efficiency.
So I hope you’ll join me and take the pledge [4] with your families to make a difference.
UPDATE: Your kids are invited to participate in the Share Your Story campaign!
Are your kids interested in saving energy and doing their part to make a difference? ENERGY STAR is accepting submissions to their Share Your Story [5] campaign until September 17th and winners will be announced on October 10th. If your kids submit a story they immediately become eligible for a number of prizes, including:
- The new Lorax DVD, which will go to the first 100 kids to submit essays
- 25 winners will receive ENERGY STAR qualified electronics products donated by LG Electronics, including computer monitors and televisions, smart phones, and mouse scanners
- Top winners will also be featured in New York’s Times Square on the LG billboard.
- Some of the winners may have a chance to participate in ENERGY STAR day in October with EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson.
How do you and your family conserve energy at home?
This post is part of a carnival of posts from many bloggers and their children who support energy efficiency and Team ENERGY STAR. Please head over to Big Green Purse to see what everyone has to say.