FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 4, 2017
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(Boulder, CO) Oct. 4, 2017 – Cities and organizations around the Southwest — including Salt Lake City, UT and Denver and Boulder, CO — announced their support for the second annual national Energy Efficiency Day (EE Day) on October 5, 2017. The day promotes affordable, simple ways that communities, businesses and individuals can save money by saving energy.
“Energy efficiency is the most cost-effective form of energy available. In our arid region, it also saves water by reducing how much power plants need to run their cooling systems. What’s more, Denver, Salt Lake City and other urban areas have found that energy efficiency improves air quality, because efficient power plants, vehicles, buildings and industries emit less pollution,” said Howard Geller, Executive Director of the Southwest Energy Efficiency Project, which also is participating in Energy Efficiency Day 2017.
In his proclamation, Denver Mayor Michael Hancock said “smarter energy use reduces the amount of electricity we need to power our lives, which helps avoid power plant emissions that can harm our health, pollute our air, and change our climate.” Denver also has developed a draft plan to reduce the city’s total greenhouse gas emissions by 80 percent by 2050.
Energy efficiency is also an economic engine, supporting 2.2 million jobs nationwide in manufacturing, construction and other fields. In the Southwest, energy efficiency jobs include about 40,000 in Arizona, nearly 30,000 in Colorado, over 30,000 in Utah, nearly 10,000 in Nevada, about 5,000 in New Mexico and another 5,000 in Wyoming. “Energy efficiency supports more jobs in the Southwest than any other segment of the energy industry, including fossil fuels production,” Geller said. Read more here.
Salt Lake City and Boulder, CO, also publicly stated support for EE Day 2017. Besides SWEEP, other businesses and organizations with a strong Southwest presence supporting EE Day include: CLEAResult, Nest; Energy Efficiency Business Coalition of Colorado; First Fuel, Franklin Energy, Green Building Alliance; Michaels Energy, Resource Media, Sierra Club, Natural Resources Defense Council, Environmental Defense; and the Association of Energy Engineers.
The public can participate in EE Day 2017 by taking the national light bulb challenge. Southwestern residents and businesses also can get information here about rebates and other energy efficiency help offered by their electric and gas utilities.
About #EEDay2017: On October 5, 2017, a network of advocates, companies, government agencies, utilities and others will join to showcase the benefits of energy efficiency. On Twitter, follow #EEDay2017 or learn more at www.energyefficiencyday.org.
About SWEEP: The Southwest Energy Efficiency Project is a public interest organization promoting greater energy efficiency in Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming. Read more at www.swenergy.org and follow us on Twitter: @SouthwestEE
