Reno, Nevada. October 28, 2009. Help Washoe County recapture first place and win $5,000 by taking the National Association of Counties (NACO) ENERGY STAR Change a Light pledge.

Visit www.greencounties.org/changetheworld to take the pledge.

Washoe County is participating in the NACO-sponsored campaign and hopes to collect the highest number of pledges from residents to change a light bulb in their home to an energy-efficient one, or choose among other actions they could take to help save energy (such as power managing computers, choosing ENERGY STAR appliances, or properly programming their thermostats). Washoe County was recently bumped from first to second place by Volusia, Florida.

“Winning this competition would be a great honor for Washoe County and our citizens. We know that our residents are taking steps to cut back on energy consumption and this is a great way to pledge to do better,” states Andy Goodrich, Air Quality Management Division Director and Washoe County Green Team Leader.

Washoe County is dedicated to preserving and enhancing our quality of life. Every County street light has been replaced with energy efficient LED bulbs. Energy Star fluorescent light bulbs use 75% less energy than a standard incandescent bulb. Since adoption of the 2001 Energy Strategy, over $1 million dollars has been saved in energy costs. If every household in Washoe County did the same light bulb switch, our community would save about 30 million kWh of electricity per year (enough to light Carson City for over one year), while also preventing 53 million pounds of greenhouse gas emissions each year.

Related Links:
(http://www.greencounties.org/changetheworld)