Nation's Electric Companies Encourage Actions for Earth Day

April 22, 2008

The world is celebrating Earth Day today. America can take pride in the progress it has made in protecting and preserving the environment. Through compliance with federal, state, and local laws, as well as many voluntary programs and partnerships, electric companies are a key part of this success story.

• Using electricity more efficiently is good for the environment, saves money, and keeps the nation's electricity supply more reliable. Discover more about the benefits of using electricity wisely and how electric companies are helping their customers to do so every day of the year.
• Be a part of a growing national effort to lower energy use by partnering with the Energy Star® program. Take the Energy Star® Change a Light Pledge by changing out one or more regular light bulbs for a compact fluorescent bulb. Every Energy Star® qualified light bulb uses about two-thirds less energy than a standard bulb and lasts up to 10 times longer costs.
• As America's demand for electricity grows larger each year, so too do the efforts of the nation's electric companies to use the country's natural resources more efficiently. Read EEI's environmental excellence report, "Responsibility, Stewardship, Accountability: The Shareholder-Owned Electric Power Industry's Commitment to the Environment."
• Global climate change is perhaps the most important environmental issue facing the world today. Learn about the electric utility industry's principles for addressing the climate issue, along with the many voluntary actions and initiatives it has conducted over the years to mitigate its greenhouse gas emissions.
• Since 1980, the nation's electric utilities have increased their coal use by 75 percent. However, during this same period, electric companies have cut their nationwide emissions of sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides by more than 40 percent. Mercury emissions, which have never before been regulated for electric generators, have also fallen by approximately 40 percent as a co-benefit from technologies designed to control non-mercury emissions. Through compliance with new regulations, America's electric companies will raise these emission reduction numbers to more than 70 percent each.
• To learn more about electricity and what steps electric companies across the country are taking now to plan for the future, please visit www.getenergyactive.org.

© 2008 Edison Electric Institute