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ADMINISTRATOR WHITMAN ACCEPTS CHARLES H. PERCY AWARD FOR THE ENERGY STAR PROGRAM

Release Date: 10/09/2002
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Environmental News

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Christie Whitman today was presented with the Charles H. Percy Award for public service by the Alliance to Save Energy. This award was given to EPA for establishing the ENERGY STAR™ program, a public-private partnership that helps protect the environment while saving consumers money through energy efficiency.

"Over the past decade, EPA’s Energy Star program has grown from a voluntary computer labeling program to a partnership with over 7000 organizations,” said Whitman. “Last year alone, Americans, with the help of energy star, saved more than $5 billion in energy costs and reduced pollution equivalent to that of 10 million cars. We look forward to working together for the next decade to help consumers across the country have the information they need to make the best choices for their lives and for the environment.”

"In just a decade, the Energy Star program has grown in both depth and breadth," said Alliance to Save Energy President David M. Nemtzow. "Now, not only are many more products included in the program than at its launch in 1992, but in addition, the Energy Star label is taking the energy efficiency message to consumers and businesses around the globe via partnerships with other governments. You can't get much better than a program that both saves consumers money and protects the environment."

Through the ENERGY STAR™ program, EPA partnerships include over 1,200 manufacturers labeling more than 13,000 products and over 1,600 builders that have constructed over 57,000 new homes. Through ENERGY STAR™, EPA has also helped thousands of businesses and schools rate their energy use.

The typical American household spends about $1,300 a year on its energy bills. By purchasing products that have earned EPA’s ENERGY STAR™ label, that bill could be cut by about 30 percent, which is a savings of about $400 a year. The ENERGY STAR™ label can now be found on more than 35 different categories including telephones, televisions, light bulbs and home appliances such as dishwashers and refrigerators. By choosing ENERGY STAR™, there is no sacrifice in the features, style or comfort that today’s consumers expect.

As part of his National Energy Plan, President Bush called for increased public awareness of the ENERGY STAR™ program and its benefits to consumers and businesses. The President also called for the expansion of the program to provide the label for additional building types including grocery stores, hospitals and hotels.

EPA established ENERGY STAR™ in 1992 to offer energy-saving and pollution-preventing solutions for consumers and businesses by awarding labels to the most energy efficient products, homes and buildings. EPA partnered with the U.S. Department of Energy in 1996 to promote the ENERGY STAR label, with each agency taking responsibility for particular product categories. For more information about the ENERGY STAR™ program visit: www.energystar.govhttp://www.epa.govhttp://www.ase.org.

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