THE WHITE HOUSE

Office of the Press Secretary

                  FROM THE WHITE HOUSE TO YOUR HOUSE:
         COMPANIES ANNOUNCE ENERGY EFFICIENT PRODUCT PROMOTIONS
                            December 2, 1999

As part the release of the Greening of the White House Report, a number of leading American companies are announcing a series of consumer incentives to help promote the use of energy efficient products by Americans in their own homes. Right now over 1,200 manufacturers and some 4,000 retail showrooms offer highly energy efficient Energy Star products. By using Energy Star products and taking other simple, common-sense steps, Americans can realize significant savings, cut air pollution, and make a meaningful contribution to cutting emissions of the greenhouse gases believed responsible for global warming.

The typical U.S. family spends close to $1,300 a year on its home utility bill. Unfortunately, a large portion of that energy is wasted. In fact, in the aggregate, U.S. homes waste as much energy as we get from the Alaskan oil pipeline each year. And the electricity generated by fossil fuels for a single home puts more carbon dioxide into the air than two average cars. Using energy efficient appliances and other common-sense conservation measures can significantly reduce home energy costs and help the environment.

Energy Star(R) Products Promotions. Six major Americans companies -- Best Buy, Home Depot, Maytag, Philips Lighting Company North America, Sears, and Whirlpool -- are announcing a series of consumer incentives to help promote the use of energy efficient products by Americans in their own homes. All of these companies are partners in Energy Star Products, a Federal-private sector partnership to design and promote appliances and other items that use cutting-edge energy efficient technologies to save consumers money and help protect the environment.

• Best Buy will offer free delivery and new financing incentives on Energy Star appliances (clothes washers, dishwashers, refrigerators) for the month of December 1999.
• Home Depot will begin a national roll-out of a new Energy Star Windows Program, with advertising displays and labels that help consumers choose among energy efficient windows.
• Maytag will reduce price on an Energy Star clothes washer by $100 starting in early 2000. It will also launch a public education campaign about the benefits of the efficient washers in selected U.S. areas where energy and water are particularly scarce.
• Philips Lighting Company North America will offer Energy Star compact fluorescent light bulbs at Home Depot for less than $10.
• Sears will feature new lines of Energy Star heating & cooling units/systems and a new Energy Star advertising campaign. Sears will also continue to offer free financing on Energy Star appliances and heating & cooling systems, as well as free delivery on all Energy Star appliances.
• Whirlpool will feature a new SERP (the U.S. Department of Energy Super-Efficient Refrigerator Program) refrigerator that is 35 percent more efficient than the current U.S. standard for refrigerators. The product will be available to consumers in the 2nd quarter of 2000.

Tips on Saving Energy & Money at Home

By employing a few inexpensive energy efficient measures, homeowners can reduce their energy bills by 10 percent to 50 percent, and at the same time, reduce air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions.

• Home Energy Audits, performed either by homeowners or professionals, show where energy is being wasted and suggest strategies for reducing energy costs. For more information on audits, homeowners can contact their utility company or the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) (see below).
• Lighting efficiency improvements are one of fastest ways to cut energy bills. Replacing 25 percent of a home's lights in high-use areas with fluorescents can save about 50 percent on a home's lighting energy bill. Compact fluorescent light bulbs are more expensive initially but reduce energy use in light fixtures by up to 70 percent and pay for themselves within three years. Also remember to turn off lights when not in use and consider installing timers, photo cells, or occupancy sensors.
• Insulation & Weatherization can increase home comfort and reduce heating and cooling needs by 30 percent for an investment of just a few hundred dollars.
• Heating & Cooling account for 44 percent of a typical home's utility bill. Proper equipment maintenance and upgrades can result in dramatic savings. Energy-saving steps include:
  • Setting thermostats as low as is comfortable in winter; as high as is comfortable in summer.
  • Cleaning or replacing filters on furnaces once a month or as needed.
  • Cleaning warm-air registers, baseboard heaters, and radiators as needed and making sure they are not blocked by furniture, carpeting, or drapes.
  • Bleeding trapped air from hot-water radiators once or twice a season.
• Water Heating accounts for about 14 percent of a home's utility bill. Homeowners can cut water heating bills by: using less hot water, turning down the thermostat on water heaters; insulating the water heater; or buying a new, more efficient model.
• Appliances account for about 20 percent of a home's energy consumption. When shopping for appliances homeowners should look for Energy Star appliances and keep in mind that their lower operating costs usually more than make up for their higher upfront costs.
• Landscaping can add aesthetic value and environmental quality to a home. Just three well-placed trees can provide enough shade and protection from wind to save an average household between $100 and $250 in annual heating and cooling costs.
• Windows account for 10 percent to 25 percent of a home's heating bill. New windows are long-term investments that have a large impact on a home's energy system. Simpler, less costly measures include installing storm windows, repairing and weatherizing existing storm windows, and installing white window shades and/or awnings on south- and west-facing windows.

For more information on saving energy and money at home, visit DOE's web site at www.eren.doe.gov/consumerinfo/energy_savers

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