Sunday June 7, 2009, 5:13 pm

Tell the Energy Department to save money and energy by strengthening lighting efficiency standards

The Department of Energy is working on a new lighting standard that could save 50 billion kilowatt hours per year by 2020. That's roughly the amount of energy produced by 20 average size power plants -- enough to run 4.4 million homes every year. The new standard could save $55 billion dollars in energy costs and keep 11 tons of mercury out of the air over 30 years.

These remarkable savings can come just from increasing the efficiency of light bulbs -- not the traditional incandescent bulbs that you have already replaced, but the tube-shaped fluorescent bulbs found in most offices and the recessed, reflector lights or "cans" that many people have in their homes.

Shortly before leaving office, the Bush administration proposed a new standard for these bulbs that left half of the potential savings on the table and failed to close a key loophole that omits many bulbs from the standard entirely. President Obama, who promised during his campaign to "make America the most efficient country in the world," has the opportunity to have his Energy Department set a standard that would save more energy than any in history.

The Energy Department is currently accepting public comments on the proposed new standard.

SEND LETTER TO ENERGY SECRETARY STEVEN CHU:

Dear Secretary Chu,

I urge you to strengthen the lighting efficiency standards proposed by the Bush administration.

These new standards, due to be completed in June, will cover fluorescent tube lamps, including the four-foot-long bulbs found in millions of office light fixtures, and incandescent reflector lamps, the common cone-shaped light bulbs used in "recessed can" light fixtures and track lighting. With more than 500 million fluorescent tube lamps and 265 million incandescent reflector lamps sold in the United States each year, new standards for these products have the potential to deliver more energy and cost savings than any other ever established by the Department of Energy.

Based on the department's analysis, strong standards for these lamps could save about 50 billion kilowatt hours per year by 2020, enough to meet the annual electricity needs of 4.4 million typical American homes. Over 30 years, strong standards could net consumers and businesses nearly $70 billion in savings and fight global warming by eliminating 800 million metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions. But the Bush administration's proposal would sacrifice as much as half of these savings. Even more savings would be lost because the reflector lamp proposal includes a huge loophole that omits about 40 percent of all sales.

During his presidential campaign, President Obama promised to work to "make America the most energy efficient country in the world." As president, he has committed to meet or beat all deadlines for new appliance and lighting standards, citing their importance for saving consumers money, spurring innovation and saving energy. By making these new lighting standards as strong as possible and closing the loophole in the reflector lamp standard, you can take a huge first step to meeting the president's commitments.

Sincerely,

[Your Name]

Sunday June 7, 2009, 5:50 pm
Signed and noted, thanks Tom

Sunday June 7, 2009, 7:37 pm
Action taken. Thanks Tom.

t h a n k s


. . .for taking action

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Signed pledge.

Thank you for making the pledge "Tell the Energy Department to save money and energy by strengthening lighting efficiency standards"

Sunday June 7, 2009, 11:20 pm
Thank you for making the pledge "Tell the Energy Department to save money and energy by strengthening lighting efficiency standards" Tx Tom

Monday June 8, 2009, 12:07 am
Pledged, noted and signed too , Thanks Tom !!

Monday June 8, 2009, 3:24 am
Noted & signed Pledge. Thanks

Monday June 8, 2009, 8:06 am
Action Center
t h a n k s


. . .for taking action


Thanks Tom

Monday June 8, 2009, 9:51 am
signed it tom

Monday June 8, 2009, 11:20 am
thanks tom

Monday June 8, 2009, 2:39 pm
Signed Pledge Thanks Tom

Monday June 8, 2009, 5:15 pm
noted & signed

Wednesday June 10, 2009, 3:50 am
Signed.

Wednesday June 10, 2009, 5:40 am
Signed. Alternative source of energy is the technologies of present.