ENERGY STAR and other voluntary programs prevented 48 million metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions in 2003, up from 43 million in 2002, EPA reports.

Protecting the Environment-Together: ENERGY STAR and Other Voluntary Programs catalogues the environmental and economic benefits of a range of EPA energy-efficiency and climate protection programs.

With ENERGY STAR, Americans prevented greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to those from 18 million automobiles and saved $8 billion on their energy bills. Also through the combined efforts of the methane programs, U.S. methane emissions are expected to be kept below 1990 levels through 2012.

More than 2,000 builders have constructed over 200,000 ENERGY STAR qualified new homes, locking in financial savings for homeowners that exceed $60 million annually.

About 5,000 homes have been improved through Home Performance with ENERGY STAR, which continues to grow with the addition of U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) sponsored pilot programs in a number of cities.

Through EPA's Green Power Partnership, more than 230 partners have committed to purchasing more than 1 billion kilowatt-hour of green power. The voluntary climate change programs include initiatives that develop clean energy solutions, increase the capture and use of methane gas, minimize emissions of other non-carbon dioxide gases, and provide opportunities for corporate partners to develop long-term comprehensive climate change strategies.

9/24/2004