April 4, 2007 — Have you ever seen this logo, and do you know what it means?
It is the ENERGY STAR logo. When you see the ENERGY STAR on a product it means the product is much more energy efficient and will save you lots of money.
ENERGY STAR, a joint program of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), helps residents and businesses in the U.S. and its territories save money and protect the environment through greater energy efficiency. In early 2006, the V.I. Water and Power Authority (WAPA) became an ENERGY STAR partner, to boost our existing programs with ENERGY STAR tools and resources — and to help you save more money.
Energy Star Can Reduce the Impact of Using Oil as a Fuel Source on our Environment and our Pocketbooks
Oil, along with coal and natural gas, is a fossil fuel; burning fossil fuels at power plants to generate energy releases greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, contributing to global warming. In the U.S., about 80 percent of all energy is generated from fossil fuels. Because we in the V.I. rely almost exclusively on oil, our energy needs are supplied by burning fossil fuels. As we each reduce our energy consumption, we reduce the demand for power plants to use oil. So the amount of energy we use in our homes and businesses directly impacts the health of our environment and our economy.
With ENERGY STAR’s help, residents and businesses across America saved enough energy in 2006 alone to avoid greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to those from 23 million cars — while collectively saving $12 billion on their utility bills. With electric rates much higher in the territory than anywhere on the mainland, these savings are all the more meaningful.
Why Did WAPA Become an ENERGY STAR Partner?
By partnering with ENERGY STAR, WAPA joined the ranks of over 8,000 organizations committed to seeing the financial and environmental benefits of enhanced energy efficiency. Over the past year, we’ve used ENERGY STAR resources to reach out to you about the many ways in which you can reduce your energy consumption and lower your utility bills.
Change a Light, Change the World
WAPA participates in ENERGY STAR programs such as the Change a Light campaign, which includes a series of ongoing events where we are distributing one FREE energy-efficient compact fluorescent light (CFL) bulb to each of our 60,000 customers. WAPA’s $100,000 investment in CFLs will save our customers almost $7 million over the four year life of the bulbs. And with each V.I. resident changing just one light bulb to a CFL, together we will have prevented an amount of greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to removing over 900 cars from our roads each year. Listen for future WAPA announcements about bulb distributions. Encourage the businesses where you buy your bulbs to only stock ENERGY STAR CFLs. They come in an exciting variety of shapes, sizes and wattages.
Is ENERGY STAR in Your Home?
CFLs are among the many the energy-efficient products that ENERGY STAR promotes. You’ve probably seen the ENERGY STAR label on other household products, as well. Energy-efficient choices in homes can save households about a third on their energy bills, while also reducing greenhouse gas emissions and improving your comfort. With energy bills here in the VI often reaching $200 or more, you can save upwards of $65 a month! ENERGY STAR makes it easy to identify energy-efficient products such as refrigerators/freezers, televisions, and washers/dryers. Always look for the ENERGY STAR logo when purchasing new household appliances and electronics to ensure that the product meets strict EPA and DOE guidelines for energy efficiency.
You May Spend a Little More, But You’ll Save a Lot More With ENERGY STAR!
A common belief among consumers is that ENERGY STAR products cost more. It’s true that these products cost slightly more at the outset, but in fact, they will save you lots of money that you start collecting immediately. For example, while a 13-watt CFL (equivalent in light output to a 60-watt incandescent) might cost $2 more than a comparable incandescent bulb, it will save you $120 over the life of the bulb by using far less energy and lasting up to ten times longer; the initial investment is small and the returns are huge!
The cost difference may be a little larger for appliances, but prudent shoppers can compare among various ENERGY STAR-labeled appliances to find the best price on an energy-efficient product that will still save them money. ENERGY STAR refrigerators, for example, may cost more than other models, but they’ll save you money every month in energy costs. Contact the V.I. Energy Office for more information about rebates available for ENERGY STAR labeled appliances.
Improve Your Comfort At Home with ENERGY STAR
Other home improvement projects can significantly contribute to reductions in energy usage and utility bills, while also improving your comfort. ENERGY STAR’s website (www.energystar.gov) offers a wealth of information to help you plan for improvements that will save significant energy costs over the short and long term — for example, online tools to analyze your home’s energy performance, and tips for improving the energy efficiency of your air conditioner and fans. ENERGY STAR also provides guidance on auditing the energy use in your home, which can identify more opportunities for improvement. Building a new home? Remember ENERGY STAR can offer just the right cost saving ideas for your dream house.
ENERGY STAR Benefits Your Business Too!
In addition to homes, businesses in the territory can also realize the financial and environmental benefits of greater energy efficiency. ENERGY STAR offers a proven energy management strategy that can help your business reduce its energy consumption and save money. ENERGY STAR can help businesses of any size save money simply by choosing energy-efficient equipment and other products — everything from computers and printers to commercial restaurant equipment, much of which can be found here in the Virgin Islands.
Need Further Incentives?
On top of the financial savings you can achieve just by reducing energy consumption, the U.S. government also offers tax incentives for saving energy. The ENERGY STAR website contains information on many of the incentives available to consumers and businesses.
By partnering with ENERGY STAR, WAPA has been able to facilitate considerable progress towards raising awareness to achieve greater energy efficiency and reduced environmental impact on our islands. And as V.I. residents, you have the power to take action yourselves to save money. You can use ENERGY STAR tools and resources to improve the energy efficiency of your homes and businesses. But beyond ENERGY STAR’s resources, you can also take small steps to save big money such as remembering to turn off lights and fans and properly maintaining your equipment. Collectively, our actions can add up to huge financial and environmental savings.
Please learn more about ENERGY STAR, by visiting www.energystar.gov or www.viwapa.vi. You can also call the ENERGY STAR Hotline at 888-STAR-YES (888-782-7937).
Editors note:We welcome and encourage readers to keep the dialogue going by responding to Source commentary. Letters should be e-mailed with name and place of residence to source@viaccess.net.
