Wednesday, Oct. 5, 2005
Governor Minner Urges Delawareans to Increase Energy Efficiency
Dover – Governor Ruth Ann Minner joined regional directors of the federal Environmental Protection Agency and Department of Energy in Dover today to kick off Energy Awareness Month by encouraging Delawareans to “Change a Light, Change the World.”
Gov. Minner also helped Liberty Court resident Audrey Jackson switch a light bulb in her apartment to an energy-efficient compact fluorescent bulb. Liberty Court is owned by the Delaware State Housing Authority, and residents must manage their electricity use to stay within a specified monthly allowance.
“We’re here today to demonstrate how easy it is to save money, conserve energy and protect the environment,” Gov. Minner said. “If every household in the United States replaced one light bulb with an ENERGY STAR qualified compact fluorescent light bulb, it would prevent enough pollution to equal removing one million cars from the road.”
Governor Minner mentioned several steps taken within Delaware state government to improve energy efficiency, such as requiring agencies to purchase ENERGY STAR products whenever feasible and enabling them to enter into Energy Performance Contracts that finance efficiency upgrades based on future savings. The Governor’s Energy Task Force, created in 2002, was an offshoot of her Livable Delaware agenda and produced dozens of recommendations that have been implemented.
EPA and the Department of Energy are urging Americans to take the “Change a Light, Change the World” pledge. ENERGY STAR is co-sponsored by those two federal agencies and helps businesses and consumers identify highly efficient products, homes and buildings. Practical energy-saving tips, including information on ENERGY STAR, are available on the Delaware Energy Office website at www.delaware-energy.com.
“EPA congratulates Gov. Minner and the State of Delaware for taking the ENERGY STAR Change a Light pledge, and encouraging Delaware residents to do the same,” said Donald S. Welsh, Regional Administrator for the EPA’s Mid-Atlantic region. “When you consider that nearly 20 percent of our nation’s residential electricity use goes toward lighting our homes, changing a light bulb to one that carries the ENERGY STAR label is one of the easiest things people can do to help improve the environment.”
“Gov. Minner’s proclamation of October as Energy Awareness Month is an example of Delaware’s continuing leadership in energy efficiency,” said Ellen Lutz, Mid Atlantic Regional Director for the U.S. Department of Energy.
Both federal officials joined Gov. Minner in Dover today, along with John Hughes, Secretary of the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control, and Saundra R. Johnson, Director of the Delaware State Housing Authority.
“The average family Delaware State Housing Authority serves spends nearly $2,000 a year on utilities. Half of that amount is spent on heating and cooling,” Director Johnson said. “By taking steps to improve energy efficiency, like using compact fluorescent bulbs and by utilizing ENERGY STAR labeled equipment , we can reduce those costs significantly, thus leading to truly more affordable housing.”
Residents of the 108-unit complex on Walker Road received an ENERGY STAR light bulb for use in their apartments.
“As we move through autumn and into winter, we consume more and more electricity to light our homes,” Secretary Hughes said. “This is the perfect time for all of us to pledge to use ENERGY STAR products for energy conservation that yields environmental as well as economic benefits.”
