Canada Adopts U.S. Energy Star Program To Promote Energy Efficiency

-- In a cooperative, voluntary effort to bring more energy efficient and environmentally friendly products to consumers throughout North America, EPA Administrator Christie Whitman has announced an agreement with Canada which will bring Energy Star products to Canadian citizens and businesses.

The agreement was signed at a Sears store in the Washington, D.C. area.

"The Energy Star label makes it easy for consumers and businesses in the U.S. -- and now Canada -- to use energy more efficiently, save money, and help protect the environment," EPA Administrator Christie Whitman said. "Our new partnership with Natural Resources Canada will provide consumers there with an easy way to determine a product's energy efficiency."

"It is a pleasure to celebrate the expansion of the Energy Star program with our newest partner -- Natural Resources Canada," Whitman added. "I am proud to be working together with Director General Neil MacLeod to bring Energy Star products to consumers in Canada. I also want to thank one of our most outstanding retail partners -- Sears -- for having us here today. By any measure the demand for energy in North America is challenging our ability to continue to supply homes and businesses with the power they need. Energy efficiency, through technology and innovation will be crucial to our energy security, as well as our quality of life, in the 21st century."

As part of his Energy Plan, President Bush called for an expansion of the Energy Star program. The EPA will be expanding the program to include additional buildings and products such as ceiling fans, grocery stores and health care facilities. This fall, the agency will launch a national public awareness campaign to make sure consumers know they can be more energy efficient if they buy products with the Energy Star label.

In the United States alone in the year 2000, Energy Star resulted in greenhouse gas reductions equivalent to taking ten million cars off the road. Eight hundred and sixty four billion pounds of carbon dioxide emissions have been prevented due to Energy Star commitments to date, with cumulative energy bill savings of $60 billion through 2010.

By establishing uniform criteria for the best in energy efficiency in the United States and Canada, this agreement should increase global supply and demand for energy efficient equipment. American manufacturers will find it easier to highlight the efficiency of their products in Canada.

Whitman, Neil MacLeod, director of the Office of Energy Efficiency, Natural Resources Canada, and David Garman, assistant secretary for energy efficiency and renewable energy at the Department of Energy, announced the agreement in a ceremony at a Sears store at Landmark Mall, Alexandria, Va. (in the Washington, D.C. metro area). Sears has stores in both countries, and was awarded an Energy Star "Partner of the Year" award by EPA earlier this year for outstanding commitment to promoting energy efficient products.

ENERGY STAR was established by EPA in 1992 to offer energy-saving and pollution-preventing solutions for consumers and businesses by awarding labels to the most energy-efficient products, homes and buildings. ENERGY STAR currently offers labels, if specifications are met, to products in over 30 categories, including computers, dishwashers, refrigerators and air conditioners. This makes it easy for families to make purchases that reduce the need for power generation at electric utilities, thereby reducing air pollution and global warming emissions. More than 600 million ENERGY STAR products have been purchased, and thousands of buildings have been upgraded, providing savings of more than $4 billion in 2000. By using ENERGY STAR labeled products, the average household can save more than $400 a year on their energy bills.

For further information on the event, contact Rachel Schmeltz at 202-564-9124.