Change the World in Six Steps

Upgrade to Energy Star Appliances

Energy Star was designed by the EPA to take the guesswork out of appliance buying. Look for the blue-and-white label, which means the item is at least 10-50% more efficient than standard models (depending on the class of product). That means lower energy bills and less pollution.

More than 18,000 products in 35 different categories are covered in the Energy Star program, and most major manufacturers participate. Energy Star is a fixture in the showrooms of most retailers coast to coast.

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OK, you've swapped your old incandescent bulbs for compact fluorescent bulbs. Now what?

The Environmental Protection Agency has five additional ideas, which it is promoting as a yearlong "Change the World: Start with Energy Star" campaign, beginning Earth Day (April 22).

The campaign promotes a six-step program for reducing personal energy consumption in order to reduce electricity demand and thereby reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The government's Energy Star program labels consumer electronic products so that we can make decisions armed with comparative information about the energy use of our purchases.

Generating power is the biggest source of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions, and a big part of electricity demand is the number and efficiency of home electronics.

Energy Star's Six Steps to Save the World

1. Replace at least one light with an energy-efficient CFL (that's "compact fluorescent light") bulb or fixture

2. Use a programmable thermostat and perform regular maintenance of HVAC (that's "heating, ventilation and air conditioning") equipment

3. Activate power management features on home computers (that is, set your computer to enter low-energy "sleep" modes automatically if inactive for a period of time)

4. Choose Energy Star-qualified TVs and other home entertainment products

5. When replacing appliances, choose Energy Star qualified products

6. Light up for the holidays with decorative lights that have earned the Energy Star

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