Company Hits Goal in Five Months of Year-Long Change A Light Campaign
HOUSTON, Oct. 3 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Reliant Energy has been
recognized as one of the nation's top five organizations -- and No. 1 in
Texas -- in encouraging individuals to switch to energy-efficient compact
fluorescent lights (CFLs) under the 2007 ENERGY STAR(R) Change a Light,
Change the World Campaign.
In only five months of the year-long campaign, Reliant Energy
encouraged 15,992 individuals to pledge to change 40,433 standard lights
with ENERGY STAR-qualified CFLs. This will result in a projected energy
savings of more than 11.4 million kWh, more than $1 million in cost savings
and a 16.5 million pound reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, according
to ENERGY STAR calculations. Each pledge made under Reliant's Compact With
Texas was sent to ENERGY STAR for its Change a Light campaign.
"We are thrilled with our 2007 results and extend our thanks to
everyone who made it a success by taking the pledge," said Janie Mitcham,
senior vice president, Reliant Energy Smart Energy programs. "We look
forward to working with ENERGY STAR in the 2008 campaign, and are proud to
be a part of a group of businesses and organizations creating awareness
about the difference individuals can make by acting together to take
energy-saving steps at home."
Reliant Energy distributed more than 15,000 free ENERGY STAR CFLs
through community outreach events with the NFL Houston Texans, the Corpus
Christi Hooks (Double A affiliate of the Houston Astros), the San Angelo
Colts (United League Baseball), energy efficiency sessions in Houston and
business networking events in Dallas-Fort Worth. Houston Texans' offensive
lineman Chester Pitts served as the sports spokesperson for the effort.
Reliant Energy is a national ENERGY STAR Partner and will participate in
the 2008 Change a Light campaign, which begins Oct. 3.
The ENERGY STAR Change a Light, Change the World campaign is a national
call-to-action sponsored by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, U.S.
Department of Energy and Department of Housing and Urban Development to
encourage Americans to use energy efficiently at home and to start by
switching to lighting options that have earned the government's ENERGY STAR
label for energy efficiency. The effort is comprised of businesses,
schools, utilities, non-profit organizations, individuals and countless
others who have made a firm commitment to help change the world, one light
-- one energy-saving step -- at a time. More than 740 organizations
participated as pledge drivers in the 2007 campaign.
Lighting can account for as much as 20 percent of the typical home's
electricity use, according to ENERGY STAR. Replacing the standard lights
used most often in the home with energy-efficient options that use 75
percent less energy is a significant way to cut energy costs while also
avoiding emissions from power plants. Reliant Energy also offers its
customers a renewable wind-generated electricity option called the OneRate
Secure Wind Plan. Electricity generated from 100 percent wind produces no
air pollution or carbon emissions that contribute to greenhouse gases.
"Becoming part of the solution to global climate change takes less time
and effort than you might think. In fact, it can start by taking
energy-saving steps at home as simple as changing a light," said Wendy Reed
of the Environmental Protection Agency. "Organizations like Reliant Energy
are an important part of the ENERGY STAR Change a Light community who have
committed their time to help spread the word about the need to use energy
more efficiently at home."
About ENERGY STAR(R)
ENERGY STAR was introduced by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
in 1992 as a voluntary, market-based partnership to reduce air pollution
through increased energy efficiency. Today, with assistance from the U.S.
Department of Energy, the ENERGY STAR program offers businesses and
consumers energy-efficient solutions to save energy and money, and help
fight global climate change. More than 8,000 organizations have become
ENERGY STAR partners and are committed to improving the energy efficiency
of products, homes and businesses. For more information about ENERGY STAR,
visit http://www.energystar.gov or call toll-free 1-888-STAR-YES
(1-888-782-7937).
About Reliant Energy
Reliant Energy, Inc. (NYSE: RRI) based in Houston, provides electricity
and energy services to retail and wholesale customers in the United States.
In Texas, the company provides service to nearly 1.9 million retail
electricity customers, including residential and small business customers
and commercial, industrial, governmental and institutional customers.
Reliant also serves commercial, industrial, governmental and institutional
customers in the PJM (Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Maryland) market.
The company is one of the largest independent power producers in the
nation with approximately 16,000 megawatts of power generation capacity
across the United States. These strategically located generating assets
utilize natural gas, fuel oil and coal. For more information, visit
http://www.reliant.com or http://www.reliant.com/compactwithtexas.
SOURCE Reliant Energy, Inc.
 back to top
Related links:
http://www.reliant.com
http://www.energystar.gov
CONTACT:
Pat Hammond of Reliant Energy,
+1-713-497-7723
|
