Aug 19 2009

"Save More" Labels Catch On

Posted by: Katie Romans

According to a recent BBMG Conscious Consumer Report: Redefining Value in a New Economy, 23 percent of US consumers said they have "no way of knowing" if a product is green or actually does what it claims.

Perhaps that is why, just four months after its public launch, PG&E's Business and Consumer Electronics program boasts participation from key national retailers -- from Best Buy to Sears to Wal-Mart to Sam's Club to Target to Costco. The program provides participating retailers with co-branded utility and ENERGY STAR labels that advise customers to "Save" and "Save More" on the most energy-efficient and cost-saving electronic products.

"Best Buy sees this partnership as yet another way to help consumers choose electronics wisely, encourage them to use more efficiently and advocate for the development of increasingly efficient products in the future." 

- Thad Carlson, senior manager of environmental affairs, Best Buy

PG&E publicly launched the Business and Consumer Electronics program with Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD) and Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance (NEEA) in April, hoping to drive national retailer participation in the first utility-driven program designed to inform businesses and consumers about the benefits of energy-efficient electronics and introduce energy efficiency as an important consideration for these purchases. 

Now, with top national retailers signed on, the program is well-positioned to deliver energy savings in the fastest growing segment of electricity use in PG&E's service area. (Electronics load already accounts for eight percent of PG&E's total electricity demand).

In total, PG&E estimates that the total savings potential of the Business and Consumer Electronics program is on the order of 158,000 megawatt-hours in 2010 alone. As the program continues to expand nationally, the United States could realize even greater energy savings if all national utilities execute similar electronics programs.

Now, that's what I call saving more. Check out energy-efficient electronics on CNET.

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