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West Virginia Joins the EPA’s ENERGY STAR Program

Release Date: 02/09/2006
Contact Information: Donna Heron, 215-814-5113

PHILADELPHIA – The U. S. Environmental Protection Agency today officially welcomed the State of West Virginia into the ENERGY STAR program through its “Build a Better World 10% at a Time” challenge.

The challenge calls on businesses and institutions across the country to take the right steps to identify the many buildings where financially attractive improvements can reduce energy use by 10 percent or more, and to make the improvements now through proven methods such as low-cost building tune-ups, lighting upgrades, and replacement of old equipment.

“By accepting this challenge, the State of West Virginia realizes that it can reduce energy costs by more than 10 percent while protecting the environment,” said Donald S. Welsh, EPA regional administrator for the mid-Atlantic region. “The State of West Virginia is to be commended for its environmental leadership.”

Welsh added, “If every business in the United States saved 10 percent on its energy bills, American companies would save about $10 billion annually.”

The new partnership agreement includes measuring and tracking the energy performance of state buildings, K-12 school facilities and commercial buildings, as well as making energy efficiency improvements where they are cost effective.

Energy efficient technologies reduce the amount of energy needed to power buildings,
and also provide cleaner air. In 2003, with the help of ENERGY STAR, Americans saved more than $8 billion on their energy bills while preventing greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to the emissions from 18 million vehicles.

EPA offers ENERGY STAR partnerships to businesses, schools and universities and other organizations as a straightforward way to adopt superior energy management, save money and protect the environment. For more information on ENERGY STAR, visit EPA’s website at www.energystar.gov or contact Mindee Osno, the regional ENERGY STAR program manager at (215)814-2074.