SAFETY, ENERGY & WEATHER

EnergyStar Change a Light Pledge

Pledge to Make a Difference, One Light at a Time

This year, Choptank Electric Cooperative is volunteering to help preserve our country's energy resources and join Americans nationwide in the fight against global warning by encouraging our members to change at least one light at home to one that has earned the government's ENERGY STAR for energy efficiency.

Choptank is doing this as part of the national ENERGY STAR Change a Light, Change the World campaign, a partnership between the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Department of Energy, Department of Housing and Urban Development, and organizations across the country to encourage individuals to actively help save energy at home, starting with a switch to energy-efficient lighting.

To give you a sense of the impact that small actions can have on our energy resources and the environment, if every American home replaced just one light bulb or fixture with an ENERGY STAR labeled one, each year we would save more than $600 million in energy costs, enough energy to light more than 3 million homes, and prevent greenhouse gases equivalent to the emissions of more than 800,000 cars!

Because lighting accounts for nearly 20% of the average home's electric bill, changing to more efficient options not only makes a dent in the amount of fossil fuels our local power plants must burn to generate electricity, but also helps reduce our electric bills at home. Over the life of a single compact fluorescent light bulb (CFL), you can save an average of $30 or more in electricity costs while preventing more than 400 pounds of greenhouse gas emissions. And, every CFL uses 75% less energy than a standard incandescent and lasts as much as 10 times longer.

This October 3 marked the third annual ENERGY STAR Change a Light Day, and hundreds of organizations announced their participation in the pledge at that time. Please join us in taking the pledge. It's a simple commitment that will go a long way to assure that the energy resources we rely on and the environment we live in are preserved for generations to come. Click here to go to the Pledge website and select Choptank Electric from the list to help demonstrate that Choptank's members and employees are a significant part of this vital national movement.

Join the ENERGY STAR Change a Light, Change the World Campaign Leverage a powerful educational platform and demonstrate your environmental commitment.

Many of our members are taking steps to improve the energy performance of your facilities and to educate others about ways to save energy. For those seeking a fresh way to invite your friends to keep energy-saving top-of-mind and to play an additional, vital role in helping to fight global warming, consider inviting them to commit to change at least one light at home to an energy-efficient one by taking the ENERGY STAR Change a Light Pledge online at www.energystar.gov/changealight.

Lighting accounts for nearly 20% of the average home's electric bill, and is one of the easiest and most effective places to save energy. One compact fluorescent light bulb can save $30 or more in electricity costs and prevent more than 400 pounds of greenhouse gas emissions.

In addition, you can tie into this national initiative in a way that allows you to measure and promote your own energy and environmental savings. Here's how: register your organization online and set your own pledge goal. You then receive personalized web links that allow you to get 'credit' for your group's pledges and track progress against your goal. Pre-made and customizable campaign materials are also available to help you invite your community to take the pledge. Once you meet your goal, you receive tools to promote your energy and environmental savings back to your community or to the media. The ENERGY STAR Change a Light, Change the World Campaign offers a simple way to demonstrate your commitment to saving energy and helping to fight global warming.

You can register anytime, but it's a good idea to do it soon. This October 3rd will mark the third annual ENERGY STAR Change a Light Day, and hundreds of organizations across the country will announce their pledge progress or launch their pledge drive at that time.

To join, go to http://energystar.gov/joinCAL.

Choptank Electric Cooperative, Inc., Route 404 & Route 328, Denton, Maryland 21629 Toll Free: 877-892-0001