WASHINGTON — New Environmental Protection Agency administrator Mike Leavitt is proposing a way for consumers to give a Christmas gift to the environment: Buy electronics that have earned the Energy Star label from the EPA.
He said that if all home electronics sold in the nation this year had earned the Energy Star qualification as proof that they are energy efficient, it would reduce air pollution by 27 billion pounds over the life of those products. That's the equivalent of removing about 350,000 cars from the road.
"The Energy Star program empowers Americans to save energy and help the environment," Leavitt, the former Utah governor, said. "Increasing the range of energy-efficient choices for Americans is a commonsense approach to achieving long-term energy efficiency and environmental protection."
The EPA estimates that by 2015, home electronics and small appliances will be responsible for almost half of all household electricity use.
About 75 percent of all energy used to power home electronics is consumed while the products are turned off. But those that are Energy Star-qualified use 50 percent less energy than conventional equipment while in the "off" position.
This year, the EPA, the Consumer Electronics Association and major manufacturers and retailers nationwide are urging holiday shoppers to look for the Energy Star label.
The Energy Star program was introduced by the EPA in 1992 as a voluntary partnership to reduce air pollution through energy efficiency. Products that earn it must meet strict energy-efficiency specifications set by the EPA and the Department of Energy.
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