The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency this week recognized Marple Township in Delaware County for its efforts to protect the environment for future generations by encouraging individuals to take the EnergyStar Change a Light pledge.

This year, in addition to encouraging community members to change to energy efficient lights, Marple Township is encouraging residents to buy EnergyStar appliances. The township will waive the collection fees on old appliances for residents who replace a major appliance with an EnergyStar appliance.

To help residents, Marple put two watt meters in the library so residents can check out the meters and take them home to see how much energy their appliances are currently using. The township is also raffling off a free home energy audit from the Philadelphia Energy Coordinating Agency, including up to $200 of home energy upgrades.

The EnergyStar Change a Light campaign helps individuals to put their home on an energy diet – one energy-saving step at a time. Lighting accounts for about 20 percent of the typical home’s electricity use. So, switching to energy-efficient lights is an easy and effective way to reduce greenhouse gases, save energy, and protect the environment.

Marple Township has 24,000 residents and has been active with EnergyStar and the former Rebuild America Program. Traffic lights have been 100 percent powered with renewable energy since 2004 and the historic 1696 Massey House is powered with 100 percent wind power.

To sign up your community for EnergyStar, contact Mindee Osno by sending email to: Osno.mindee@epa.gov . To learn how to make your township’s operations more sustainable and benefit from going green contact Lorna Rosenberg by sending email to: Rosenberg.lorna@epa.gov.

10/12/2007