All News Releases By Date

 

New Castle County, Delaware, Joins EPA’s ENERGY STAR Program

Release Date: 8/9/2005
Contact Information: Donna Heron 215-814-5113

Contact: Donna Heron (215) 814-5113
NEW CASTLE, Del. – The U. S. Environmental Protection Agency today officially welcomed Delaware’s New Castle County into the ENERGY STAR program.

“By partnering with EPA, local municipalities are realizing that they can reduce energy costs by nearly 40 percent while protecting the environment,” said Donald S. Welsh, EPA regional administrator for the mid-Atlantic region. “New Castle County is to be commended for its environmental leadership.”

New Castle County has already taken an active role in energy conservation by implementing a new recycling program for county employees, an energy audit, and a reduction in the size and gas-consumption rate of the county's fleet of motor vehicles. By joining the ENERGY STAR program, New Castle County is making a commitment to further reduce energy consumption and simultaneously address potential indoor air quality issues.

Today’s announcement came just one day after President Bush signed into law a national energy plan that calls for new minimum energy efficiency standards for a range of products including heaters, refrigerators, and lighting units. It also encourages the sale and production of energy efficient products, which increases the supply of available energy.

"New Castle County is to be congratulated for joining the Environmental Protection Agency's ENERGY STAR program. Efforts to reduce energy use are always appreciated, and today it is especially important, as our nation continues to struggle with ways to meet an ever-growing demand for energy in an affordable way. Not only does the ENERGY STAR program have a proven record of reducing energy usage, it has also successfully saved the citizens of this country billions of dollars in energy costs," said U.S. Senator Joseph R. Biden Jr.

U.S. Senator Tom Carper and U.S. Rep. Michael N. Castle also congratulated New Castle County for its commitment to energy efficiency.


“I am so proud of New Castle County and their efforts concerning energy consumption. They are role models in our community,” said Carper.

"I am pleased to hear that New Castle County has joined this very important initiative in energy efficiency in our country. Because of the guidelines set by the EPA and U.S. Department of Energy, there have been great strides in energy management, and now the people of New Castle County will help to continue this crucial program," Castle said.

New Castle County uses more than 38 million kWh per year to operate its 54 main buildings and 128 additional sites, which include pump stations and treatment plants. By following the ENERGY STAR program, the county hopes to significantly reduce energy use and costs. Last year the county spent more than $5 million on electricity last year.

“The changes New Castle County employees have made over the past seven months are helping us become better public servants and better residents of our planet," New Castle County Executive Chris Coons said. “Saving energy translates to cost savings for our taxpayers and a cleaner, safer work environment for our employees.”

By joining the ENERGY STAR program, New Castle County has committed to measure and track the energy performance of county buildings, and improve efficiency by using energy-saving equipment and devices 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.