Environmental Protection Agency is asking organizations to join the ENERGY STAR Low Carbon IT Campaign. By enabling the power management, or sleep mode, on their computers and monitors, organizations will help reduce our growing demand for electricity, and save money while fighting climate change. If all office computers and monitors in the U.S. were set to sleep when not being used, the country could save more than 44 billion kWh or $4 billion worth of electricity and avoid the greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to those of about 5 million cars each year.

ENERGY STAR News: Business and Industry Edition Spring 2008.

Lt. Governor Barbara Lawton, as part of her Green Economy Agenda, called on Wisconsin's school superintendents to accept her Energy Star School Challenge. Lawton, speaking at the Wisconsin Association of School District Administrators Annual Education Conference in Elkhart Lake, promised administrators ready access to the tools they need to reduce energy losses and realize savings for their districts.

ENERGY STAR award winners are leading the nation. Seventy-four organizations from more than 12,000 program partners are being recognized in 2008 for their leadership, accomplishments, and commitment to energy efficiency. By adopting superior business strategies for energy efficiency and seeing it through to results, these organizations are helping themselves, their communities, and all of us reap the benefits. They are leaders in energy efficiency, taking us to a brighter future.

Joe McInerney left his position as president and C.E.O. of the Pacific Asia Travel Assn. and returned to the U.S. to serve as the president and C.E.O. of the American Hotel & Lodging Assn. The first thing he asked his new colleagues was their plans for a sustainable tourism industry. He wanted to know what plans were in place for conserving water and energy and for managing waste.

America's drinking water and wastewater facilities can now save energy and reduce their carbon footprint with expanded tools available from EPA's ENERGY STAR Program. Enhancements to Portfolio Manager, the Agency's popular energy tracking tool for commercial facilities, allow water utilities to track energy use and associated carbon emissions, set targets for investment priorities, and verify efficiency improvements. Water and wastewater facilities are energy intensive, accounting for more than one-third of municipal energy use.

The number of commercial buildings and manufacturing plants to earn the ENERGY STAR for superior energy efficiency is up by more than 25% in the past year and the amount of carbon dioxide emissions reduced has reached an all-time high of more than 25 billion pounds. Nearly 4,100 buildings and manufacturing plants have earned the EPA’s ENERGY STAR through the end of 2007, with the addition of more than 1,400 in 2007 alone. They include about 1,500 office buildings, 1,300 supermarkets, 820 K-12 schools, and 250 hotels.

Travelocity has launched an eco-friendly directory to help travelers determine green from “green-washed.” In a recent Travelocity survey, 59 percent of respondents stated a “green” rating would have at least some influence in their hotel selection in 2009. The green travel directory highlights properties and destinations already offering meaningful sustainability initiatives and is a trusted resource for consumers looking for eco-friendly options in 2009.

Water Treatment and Distribution Facilities & Portfolio Manager Enhancements. More ...