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The Environmental and Energy Study Institute sponsored a Congressional briefing on the Energy Star program, a highly successful voluntary partnership with U.S. companies, state/local governments, and other organizations designed to seize on these important national opportunities:

• By the year 2010, over 50 percent of CO2 emissions will come from equipment and products that consumers have yet to purchase.
• More than 30 percent of the energy required to run our homes, offices and schools can be saved profitably, easily and with no sacrifice in quality. For the average homeowner, that means saving $400 a year.
• Eliminating this waste amounts to over $230 billion in energy savings for homeowners and commercial buildings by 2010.

Started in 1991 by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Energy Star is now a joint effort of the EPA and the Department of Energy. By increasing the energy efficiency of buildings, homes and appliances, Energy Star has spurred investments of more than $7 billion in more energy efficient technologies and energy bill savings of over $25 billion. This more efficient use of energy simultaneously prevents millions of tons of pollution -- pollution associated with acid rain, urban smog and greenhouse gas emissions.

The panel included partners of the Energy Star program. In their remarks, they discussed why their organizations partnered with Energy Star, their accomplishments, and how the partnership has changed the way they do business. David Goldston, legislative director for Rep. Sherwood Boehlert (R-NY), provided opening remarks.

Michael W. Sarasin, Director, Corporate Quality Assurance/Environmental Administration, Ricoh Corporation, Pine Brook, NJ. Ricoh Corporation has led the office equipment industry in promoting energy efficiency. Their commitment to innovation has put them at the forefront of designing, manufacturing, and marketing Energy Star products. Ricoh aggressively promotes advanced energy saving features in all of their company products, delivering the message that energy efficient technologies are high performance technologies.

Rick Gerardi, Residential Program Manager, New York State Energy Research & Development Authority (NYSERDA). Fulfilling its public benefit requirements resulting from electricity restructuring in New York, NYSERDA has teamed up with other organizations on an educational campaign for consumers, including public service announcements featuring Governor Pataki, to raise awareness of the Energy Star label. Their public service announcements will run through June 2001 and have already aired 546 times on television stations throughout New York state and were seen by an estimated 11 million viewers.

Robert C. Accomando, First Vice President, Asset Management, Arden Realty, Inc., Los Angeles, CA. Arden is the largest landlord of office buildings in Southern California. Since joining Energy Star in 1999, Arden has been active in determining cost-effective energy efficiency upgrades across their portfolio. Thirty-one of their buildings have earned the distinction of achieving the Energy Star status. Arden recognizes that improved energy performance results in a more competitive, profitable, and valuable portfolio.

Pat Meier, Director, Wisconsin Energy Bureau, State of Wisconsin. After successfully completing Green Lights upgrades in all of its facilities including state universities, Wisconsin committed to improve other key building energy systems. Because of these upgrades, the state saves $7.5 million a year and prevents sizable greenhouse gas emissions. The state has also launched the Wisconsin Focus on Energy education campaign, which included showcasing the Energy Star Building upgrade of the Green Bay Packers’ football stadium.

The Energy Star program reduces energy consumption, saves money, decreases pollution, helps diminish U.S. dependence on foreign oil, and creates markets for new highly energy efficient products.

This briefing is part of EESI's series in support of Earth Day 2000!