September 25, 2006

If you are looking for a way to energize your city this fall, you may find it as easy as changing a light.

In its 7th year, the annual ENERGY STAR Change a Light, Change the World Campaign is a national challenge to encourage every American to help change the world, one light—one energy-saving step—at a time. With nearly 20 percent of our nation’s residential electricity used to light homes, each American can take a simple action—changing an inefficient bulb to an ENERGY STAR qualified compact fluorescent light—to save energy, money, and the environment.

As part of the ENERGY STAR Change a Light, Change the World Campaign, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and U.S. Department of Energy are looking for local leaders to help play a pivotal role by involving your community in this important campaign.

At the campaign’s heart is the ENERGY STAR Change a Light pledge, an online form for individuals to commit to being more energy efficient by switching one light bulb in their home to an ENERGY STAR qualified one. Found at www.energystar.gov/changealight, this pledge is also a simple, but vital method of forming a community of inspired individuals across the nation to commit to saving energy and reducing greenhouse gases.

The 2006 ENERGY STAR Change a Light, Change the World Campaign runs from October 1 through November 30 in sync with Energy Awareness Month, Daylight Saving Time and the peak lighting sales season. As city leaders, mayors play a key role in educating citizens about energy efficiency.

On behalf of the U.S. Department of Energy, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, ENERGY STAR hopes to count on you to take an active role in encouraging your citizens to make a simple, yet meaningful commitment to reduce greenhouse gases, save energy and protect the environment for future generations.through the ENERGY STAR Change a Light pledge. More information and a complete mayors’ toolkit can be found at www.energystar.gov/changealight.