United States Environmental Protection Agency Air and Radiation 6202J EPA 430-F-93-052 November 1993 &ER& Energy Star Programs ENERGY STAR PROGRAMS m mumM ruvnrru *i*!Ul^^^ >&,'•• ("s^ Electricity generation is a source of air pollution, accounting for 35 percent of all U.S. emissions of carbon dioxide, 75 percent of sulfur dioxide, and 38 percent of nitrogen oxides. EPA has formed revolutionary, voluntary new partner- ships with the private sector to encourage the production and use of energy-efficient equipment that reduce air pol- lution. The flagship Green Lights program helps businesses and other organizations cut their lighting electricity bills. Itisalsothe first step in the comprehensive Energy Star Buildings program, which addresses heating, cooling, and air handling in commercial buildings. The Energy Star Computers program works with manufacturers and end users to bring more energy-efficient computers to market. These exciting public-private partnerships are changing the way the country consumes energy—and they're preventing pollution profitably! m Green Lights: A Bright Investment in Energy Efficiency .Lighting accounts for 2CM-25 percent of all elec- tricity use in the United States. If everyone in the country used energy-effi- cient lighting, the nation could save—and rein- vest—about $16 billion per year, and could reduce carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxides, and sulfur dioxide emissions from utilities by up to 12 percent. By forming voluntary working partnerships with over 1,150 businesses, institutions, and nonprofit organizations, the Green Lights program has taught these organizations to view lighting as an oppor- tunity for investment. rather than as simply a fixed overhead cost. Green Lights works with partici- pants to encourage the installation of energy-effi- cient lighting, only where profitable and where light- ing quality is maintained or enhanced. EPA provides technical support to partic- ipants, as well as employee education and opportunities for public recognition for their envi- ronmental leadership. By applying the Green Lights formula for success, these organizations have real- ized average rates of return on their invest- ments of 30 percent or more. ------- Energy Star Buildings: Maximizing Energy tfficiency--and Profits The United States spends approximately $70 billion annually to operate commercial and industrial buildings. Now, a wide variety of energy-efficient technologies can cut this energy use by more than 40 percent. That amounts to $28 billion that can be reinvested in the economy each year, rather than wasted on unnecessary electricity use. More important, this profitable and efficient use of energy means less air pollution! The Energy Star Build- ings program is a five- stage process in which EPA asks participants to perform energy-efficiency upgrades only where prof- itable. The program starts with membership in Green Lights, followed by a comprehensive building survey and tune-up. It then calls for reducing heating, ventilation, and air-condi- tioning (HVAC) loads and improving fans and air- handling systems. The pro- gram finishes with an improved HVAC plant, comprised of more effi- cient chiller and heating systems. Energy Star Computers: Saving Money by Going to Sleep Computers currently account for 5 percent of commercial electricity con- sumption. As the fastest- growing business electricity load, this could rise to 10 percent by the year 2000. As many as 30-40 percent of personal computers are left running at night and on weekends. Recognizing this signifi- cant, energy-saving oppor- tunity, EPA has formed a partnership with leading computer manufacturers to develop desktop com- puters, monitors, and printers that can "sleep," or "power-down," when not is use. Now available to consumers and busi- nesses, this sleep feature can cut a computer's elec- tricity use by over one- half. Look for computer prod- ucts with the Energy Star™ logo. Together, we could save enough elec- tricity each year to power Vermont and New Hampshire, to cut electric- ity bills by $2 billion, and to reduce carbon dioxide pollution equal to the emissions from 5 million automobiles. The Energy Star pro- grams offer the kind of tools pioneered by the Green Lights program— objective product infor- mation, expert decision-making capa- bility, extensive techni- cal support, and the ability to publicize progress in environmen- tal protection. Energy Star Buildings and Energy Star Computers are add ing to the momentum established by Green Lights, and already the air is cleaner! EPA POLLUTION PREVENTtR For more |, informationl ~ For more information ••=: contact: - Energy Star Programs •>,_„- U.S.EPA(6202J) LUC' 401 M Street, SW ^ -g, Washington, DC 20460o cr Fax: 202 775-6680 Or call: 202 775-6650 For more information by fax (available 24 hours a day), call 202 233-9659 EPA SEEKS ONLY TO PROMOTE ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND DOES NOT ENDORSE ANY PARTICULAR COMPANY OR ITS PRODUCTS. ------- |