Alliance to Save Energy Launches Energy-Efficiency Home Makeover in Washington, DC to Begin National '6 Degrees of Energy Efficiency Challenge'
The Alliance to Save Energy organized a makeover of an inner-city row house in Washington, DC to kick-off '6 Degrees of Energy Efficiency Challenge.' The challenge aims to increase energy efficiency by educating the public on simple, cost-cutting, energy-saving home improvements that will lower their energy bills and in turn help the environment, the economy, and the world.
Washington, DC (PRWEB) November 17, 2006 -- To demonstrate the important connections between our individual energy use and the world's environment, economy and security, the Alliance to Save Energy, the American Gas Association (AGA), The Dow Chemical Company Inc., and 27 additional Power is in Your Hands partners today launched the "6° of Energy Efficiency Challenge" by making cost-effective energy-efficiency improvements to a nearly century-old Washington, DC row house owned by a family struggling to meet rising energy costs. From the inner-city of our nation's capital, to the small Midwestern suburbs, families across the nation continue to struggle with rising energy bills. Even as consumer pocketbooks are hit hard by these huge costs, all of that energy use -- much of it wasteful -- also is affecting the well-being of our families, our communities, our states, our country, and ultimately, our world.
Average U.S. households will pay nearly $5,000 to power their homes and vehicles this year -- 32 percent greater than just two years ago. In fact, the Energy Information Administration estimates that America's families will spend an average of $902 on heating their homes this winter. The energy-efficiency home makeover marks the first step in connecting the important collective benefits that will come from families and communities across the U.S. who "take the challenge" and begin to save energy and thereby help the world. Taking the challenge is easy to do on the interactive 6° Challenge Web site, www.sixdegreechallenge.org.
The makeover illustrated several steps consumers can take to save energy in their own homes and cut their energy bills, including: air-sealing with foal sealant to stop air leakage through hidden holes, gaps and cracks; insulating the home, installing several "winterizing" products like door sweeps and weather-stripping, replacing regular light bulbs with ENERGY STAR-labeled compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs), installing a programmable thermostat, and getting regular vehicle tune ups, replacing your vehicle air filters, and checking your tire pressure.
"Energy efficiency is for everyone," said Alliance President Kateri Callahan. "We're conducting a makeover of a needy family's home to demonstrate many of the easy things consumers can do to start saving energy and money today. The Power is in Your Hands partners, which include 30 companies, government agencies, trade associations, environmental groups, and others, are committing their time and resources to teaching consumers how to take individual steps to not only save themselves money, but also by doing so to improve their communities and the world by advancing energy efficiency. This campaign uniquely links tens to hundreds of thousands of people together to leverage individual action for the greater good."
"In a time when we're constantly reminded of how overwhelming our nation's energy challenges are today, we often feel as though we can't or won't make a difference. That's why I'm a strong believer in this campaign. The entire focus is based on how simple, individual actions can add up to make a big difference," said Mark Pryor, U.S. Senator from Arkansas and Alliance chair. "As we embark upon the new Congress, I'm looking forward to working with the Alliance to build a comprehensive approach that encourages improved energy efficiency from farms to factories and homes to headquarters."
"Every consumer has a part to play in energy efficiency," said Dow's Peter Molinaro. "We are proud to support the 6° of Energy Efficiency Challenge because it demonstrates that each person's energy use has a much wider impact. By linking us all together, we help turn small steps into big change."
About Alliance to Save Energy
The Alliance to Save Energy is a coalition of prominent business, government, environmental, and consumer leaders who promote the efficient and clean use of energy worldwide to benefit consumers, the environment, economy, and national security.
About The Power is in Your Hands campaign
The Power is in Your Hands campaign is designed to arm consumers with information and tools to manage their home energy bills; inform them about the connection between household energy use and energy prices; and inspire them to use energy efficiency to reduce their energy and thereby enhance the nation's energy security. Phase 1 was launched in winter 2005 with 23 business, government, and nonprofit partners. The Phase 2 2006-7 winter campaign has grown to 30 partners taking a creative new approach with the 6° of Energy Efficiency Challenge.
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