National ENERGY STAR Bus Tour Stops in Maplewood to Recognize New Jersey for its goal to switch 20,000 light bulbs with ENERGY STAR models
NEWARK, NJ, October 18, 2007 – In recognition of the importance of energy savings for New Jersey residents, businesses and municipalities, New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (NJBPU) President Jeanne M. Fox, New Jersey Director of Energy Savings John Rhodes and Maplewood Mayor Fred Profeta welcomed the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s ENERGY STAR Change a Light Bus to celebrate the more than 2,000 Pledges received in support of the national Change-A-Light and Change the World Campaign. Governor Corzine declared October as Energy Awareness Month and October 18, 2007 as Change-A-Light Day.
As the national ENERGY STAR® Change a Light Bus Tour rolled into the Maplewood Train Station today, New Jersey is more than half way to reaching its goal of switching 20,000 standard light bulbs to ENERGY STAR compact fluorescents by the end of the year. The NJBPU and New Jersey’s Clean Energy ProgramTM set the goal earlier this month as part of the ENERGY STAR Change a Light, Change the World Campaign and now leads the nation in total number of pledges by a State agency and stands in the top five overall for all partners involved in the campaign.
“If all the households in New Jersey changed just five incandescent light bulbs to ENERGY STAR qualified bulbs, New Jersey would prevent more than 3.5 million tons of greenhouse gas emissions over the lifetime of the bulbs—the equivalent of removing nearly 600,000 cars from New Jersey’s roadways,” said Jeanne M. Fox, President of the Board of Public Utilities. “Participating in New Jersey’s Change a Light Pledge is a simple way for all New Jerseyans to be a part of Governor Corzine’s plan to use energy more wisely in New Jersey.”
Garden State residents can participate in the ENERGY STAR Change a Light Pledge by changing out five incandescent light bulbs with ENERGY STAR qualified bulbs. ENERGY STAR compact fluorescent bulbs use 75% less energy than conventional incandescent bulbs. Changing the five most frequently used light bulbs or fixtures in the house to ENERGY STAR can save the average household about $60 a year in electricity costs.
“To send the message that New Jersey must lead by example, Governor Corzine signed legislation this year to mandate the phase-out of incandescent lighting in State facilities and to require the purchase of EnergyStar products,” said John Rhodes, Director of Energy Savings. “We’re working with all State agencies to replace lighting, reduce energy usage, cut costs and operate cleaner. With a twist of a new bulb and the turn of a switch, State government is putting the lighting pledge into practice.”
The BPU and New Jersey’s Clean Energy Program recognized Maplewood and other CleanPower Community Partners at the event for their efforts to promote and educate residents and businesses about the ENERGY STAR Change a Light Pledge. With the help of leading New Jersey communities, utility companies, residents and businesses, the state has already collected more than 2,000 pledges to change 15,739 bulbs or fixtures, saving a total of 4,438,398 kWhs* of electricity, the equivalent of the annual electricity used by about 443 homes. They have also helped prevent 6,437,251 pounds of greenhouse gas emissions over the lifetime of the bulbs.
“Maplewood is proud to be one of the 20 communities that have signed up to take New Jersey’s ENERGY STAR Change a Light Pledge,” said Maplewood Mayor Fred Profeta. “We are well on our way to reaching our goal of collecting 400 pledges by the end of the year with nearly 300 pledges already in hand. Switching to ENERGY STAR qualified lighting is a simple step anyone can take to support our commitment to greenhouse gas reduction through our Climate Action Plan, as well as New Jersey’s plan to use energy more wisely.”
The following New Jersey businesses, communities and organizations are actively collecting pledges:
AHOME, Inc.; Atlantic City Electric; Atlantic County Utilities Authority; Borough of Belmar; Borough of Lindenwold; Cape May City Council/Energy Commission and Planning Board; City of Long Branch; City of Orange Township; City of Summit; Community Green; Environmental Commission, Summit, NJ; JCP &L; Middlesex County Showroom of Environmental Technology: County of Middlesex, Department of Transportation; New Jersey Natural Gas; Office of the Hudson County Executive; PSE&G; Policy Solutions for Hoboken NJ; Princeton Environmental Commission; Red Bank Environmental Commission; Rockland Electric; South Jersey Gas; South Orange Energy Policy Committee; The Nature Center of Cape May; Total Health of NJ; Township of Maplewood; Township of Montclair; Township of West Orange; Unity Learning Environments.
To help achieve its goal and make it easy for New Jersey families and communities to participate and SAVE, New Jersey Clean Energy Program is sponsoring a public education campaign in tandem with special discounts on ENERGY STAR qualified lighting at over 900 retailers across the state now through November. For a list of participating retailers and to take the ENERGY STAR Change a Light Pledge, visit www.njcleanenergy.com/cal or call 1-866-NJSMART (1-866-657-6278).
