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EPA Launches Fall Tour to Help Americans Fight Climate Change and Save Money

Release Date: 09/17/2009
Contact Information: Enesta Jones, jones.enesta@epa.gov, 202-564-7873, 202-564-4355

WASHINGTON -Today EPA is kicking off “Change the World, Start with Energy Star” events across the country, encouraging kids and their families to fight climate change while saving energy and money. EPA partnerships with the Boys & Girls Clubs of America (BGCA) and Parent Teacher Organizations Today (PTO Today) will engage young people in energy efficiency service projects in their communities and encourage Americans to take the Energy Star Pledge to make energy-efficient choices at home, at work and in their communities. This year’s fall campaign also includes a national, multi-city, multimedia tour of the Energy Star Exhibit House, which showcases energy-efficient products and practices.

“We’re showing people across the country how energy efficiency can be part of what they do every day. That’s especially important for the kids, who will use these lessons to cut energy use and reduce pollution for the rest of their lives,” said EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson. “Confronting climate change, saving money on our utility bills, and reducing our use of heavily-polluting energy can be as easy as making a few small changes. That’s how we change the world with Energy Star.”

Kids from BGCA in 60 locations are conducting energy check-ups at homes and in their communities and educating their peers and families about energy efficiency. Through PTO Today, EPA is reaching out to 6,000 schools across the country with “Go Green Nights” to help families learn about energy-efficient changes they can make in their homes and schools to save energy and help fight climate change.

As part of the fall campaign, Americans are encouraged to take the Energy Star Pledge, challenging all of us to help fight climate change by making energy-efficient choices at home, at work and in our communities. If every American household took part in the pledge, we would save more than $18 billion in annual energy costs and prevent greenhouse gases equivalent to the emissions of more than 18 million cars.

The Energy Star Exhibit House will make stops in Dallas, Los Angeles, Seattle and Boston. Room-by-room, visitors will learn how to save energy and money while protecting the environment by looking for Energy Star qualified products and using energy-efficient practices. The tour will also feature local youth organizations making a difference in their communities with Energy Star.

More information about the campaign events and partnerships: http://www.energystar.gov/changetheworldl