DOE Launches Energy Conservation Campaign

3 October 2005

DOE Secretary Bodman

Secretary of Energy Samuel Bodman today unveiled a national campaign to highlight how American consumers, businesses and government agencies can conserve energy in response to rising winter energy costs.

Secretary Bodman was joined in announcing this effort by Kateri Callahan, President of The Alliance to Save Energy.

As a result of tight oil and gas markets, and the damage done by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, it’s likely that consumers will see an increase in their heating bills this winter. Our entire administration, from the President on down, is concerned about the impact of high home heating prices on American families. This effort will provide consumers, industry and federal agencies with a variety of energy saving ideas, which if done properly, can yield significant savings.

—Secretary Bodman

Secretary Bodman and top leadership of the Department of Energy (DOE) will travel the country over the next several months to discuss how American families can save money and energy this winter.

For consumers, the DOE is providing an “Energy $avers“ Guide. Tips range from improving insulation and caulking to using solar and small-scale wind turbines.

Within the Savers site is information on alternative fuel vehicles (biodiesel, electricity, ethanol, natural gas, or propane), electric bicycles, electric vehicles, fuel cell vehicles, hybrids and neighborhood electric vehicles. There are also tips on improving the fuel efficiency of current vehicles.

The Department of Energy is also releasing three radio public service announcements in English and Spanish that provide easy tips for saving energy. These public services announcements will be distributed to nearly 4,500 radio stations across the country by the Alliance to Save Energy.

Don’t be a hog.

As part of the education effort, Secretary Bodman announced an aggressive campaign, beginning in January, 2006 starring DOE’s “Energy Hog.” Energy Hog ads will be placed in magazines, regional newspapers, on billboards, bus signs, bus stop signs and taxi tents.

The Energy Hog campaign includes web-based educational games, web banner ads, a school curriculum for grades 3-8 as well as radio and television ads. The Home Depot, the Alliance to Save Energy, the Ad Council, the North American Insulation Manufacturers Association, 18 State Energy Offices and New Jersey Natural Gas and have partnered with the Department of Energy on this effort.

(As an aside, none of the Hog family (see the link) has yet been singled out for driving gas guzzlers.)

For business, the DOE will send teams of energy efficiency experts to 200 of America’s most energy-intensive factories with the goal of improving efficiency by 10%. Through this effort, the Department hopes to create momentum to significantly improve energy practices throughout industry.

For government agencies, Secretary Bodman has directed teams of qualified energy experts to deploy to federal facilities to identify quick and easy ways to save energy this winter. The federal government is the largest consumer of energy in the United States.