Nevada Power receives Energy Star recognition

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy recently awarded Nevada Power Co. the 2008 Excellence in Energy Star Promotion award for its Energy Star Lighting and Appliance Program.

Nevada Power is a member of Nevada Energy Star partners, a voluntary coalition of Southern Nevada home builders, developers, retailers, mortgage providers, energy consultants and local utilities promoting energy conservation.

The partnership recently launched its 2008 campaign, "Energy Star -- Your Green Foundation."

The three-month awareness-building campaign, funded by contributions from partners, is designed to promote Energy Star brand awareness and energy conservation as an important first step for individuals and corporations committed to "going green."

Nevada Power's award-winning program encompasses a comprehensive promotion plan to encourage the use of compact fluorescent lamps. It includes events and collaboration with nonprofit and community based organizations to reach a larger audience.

For example, Nevada Power partnered with local casinos to get compact fluorescent lamps directly into customers' hands. The casinos distributed informational materials and gave Energy Star-qualified CFLs to customers as prizes.

During the holiday season, Station Casinos gave employees at each of its 19 properties a 12-pack of CFLs as a holiday gift, amounting to more than 180,000 CFLs.

"Our overriding goal is to provide our customers with the tools to become more energy efficient and save money," said John Hargrove, program manager for Nevada Power.

"As a result of the unique activities associated with this program, in 2007 we promoted the purchase and installation of more than 2 million compact fluorescent lamps. So far in 2008, Nevada Power has promoted the purchase and installation of 1.5 million CFLs.

Nevada Power also partners with local retailers to offer customers the CFLs at reduced prices. Customers can find CFLs individually priced at around $1 at stores such as Lowe's, Sam's Club and Costco.

The use of CFLs is a major step toward conservation, since they use 75 percent less energy and generate 75 percent less heat."

Existing homeowners can cut their power bill and conserve electricity in their home by following other low cost tips. Setting their thermostat to 78 degrees when they are home and leaving their blinds closed during the day will help reduce their power bill.

Installing a programmable thermostat and landscaping to shade the home from the hot summer sun are other great energy conservation measures.

Nevada Power discourages residents from operating a second refrigerator in the garage, because the appliance uses more energy there.

Nevada Power will pick up old refrigerators in working condition, pay the consumer $30 and recycle the appliance.

"Many consumers overlook conservation measures such as this, but the demand for power in a home adds up where we least expect it," said Greg Kern, director of energy efficiency and conservation for Nevada Power.

"Quite often customers have more than one refrigerator which accounts for some 20 percent of the energy used by the average Nevada household."

Now in its eighth year, Nevada Energy Star was recognized in April by the EPA at a ceremony in Washington, D.C., with its Sustained Excellence award.

For more information on energy conservation topics, visit nevada power.com/conservation.