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Welcome to Lightsite.net ENERGY STAR ® in the News What's going on with E NERGY S TAR ® in your community? Stay informed through stories from regional news clippings , energy newsbriefs from CON.WEB , and the U.S. EPA E NERGY S TAR ® News Room . NEWS ARTICLES CFL Sales Looking Bright, Even After Post-Energy Crisis Dip Customers Put a Spotlight on Energy Conservation Northwest Leads the Nation in Energy Savings Effort National Leader Whitman Accepts Charles H. Percy Award For the E NERGY S TAR ® Program E NERGY S TAR ® Helps America Keep Cool This Summer Regional News Clippings Each month the E NERGY S TAR ® Lighting Program features Northwest regional news stories about energy-efficiency from local papers. CFL Sales Looking Bright, Even After Post-Energy Crisis Dip Jim DiPeso for Con.Web Compact fluorescent lamps are holding on to an expanded beachhead in theresidential lighting market, even as recent sales have dipped from theirextraordinary high during the 2000-01 energy crisis, according to NorthwestEnergy Efficiency Alliance reports and industry observers. With energy off the front pages, ongoing consumer interest in reducingelectricity bills is likely to continue supporting CFL sales, the Alliancereported in a market evaluation study prepared by ECONorthwest in 2002. CFL bulb prices have fallen by about two-thirds since 1997, which isattracting more consumers, according to Costco, the region's leading CFL retailer. Increasing manufacturere interest in CFLs also is evident. CFLs, however, still account for a small share of the residential lightingmarket, and sustained high sales will be necessary to transform thehousehold lighting market, the market evaluation study reported. Even at the height of the energy crisis, with power shortages on the frontpages and a compact fluorescent discount coupon campaign in full swing, CFLsaccounted for only 11 percent of total Northwest light bulb sales, the studynoted. Fewer than 40 percent of households purchased even one CFL. Cost is still a significant barrier to expanded CFL sales. Quality alsoremains a concern, despite improvements "The product appears to be viable for some people for some applications,"said Ken Keating, Bonneville Power Administration market transformationcoordinator and Alliance board member. "Long term, there is still a lot moreenergy efficiency to be acquired in lighting. This is still a blip," Keatingsaid. Compact fluorescent market still small, but looking brighter. (Continuation from Home page) CFL Sales Down ... But Still Up Northwest sales of compact fluorescent bulbs are running at about 4 millionunits per year, said Marci Sanders, the Alliances residential lightingprogram coordinator. While sales have fallen from the estimated 6.7 millionsnapped up in the region during 2001, the volume is substantially higherthan the estimated 381,000 sold in 2000, according to Alliance figures. (Inaddition to the 6.7 million bulbs sold in 2001, utilities gave away anadditional 1.6 million that year, according to the market evaluation study.) The Alliance had expected 2002 CFL sales to reach 2.5 million, but an autumnbuying surge helped push the volume to 4 million, Sanders told the Allianceboard April 30. Northwest lighting sales typically rise in the fall, asdaylight noticeably diminishes. In addition, a national Energy Star CFLpromotion, Change a Light, was in full swing, Sanders said. Since 1997 the Alliance has sponsored a residential lighting program toboost sales of compact fluorescent lights and fixtures. Between 1997 and2000, manufacturers were given incentives through the compact fluorescentfixture and bulb programs to increase availability of CFLs and reduceprices, according to the market evaluation study. In 2000, the studycontinued, the programs were combined into one and revamped to emphasizemarketing partnerships with retailers and to support only EnergyStar-certified bulbs and fixtures. More than 1,000 Northwest retailers haveparticipated in CFL marketing activities. Nearly 90 utilities participated in a CFL coupon campaign funded by BPA andutilities during the boom year of 2001. Coupons accounted for nearly 40percent of CFL sales that year. The market evaluation study found evidence CFL sales can be sustainedwithout coupons. In a 2001 survey of 1,421 Northwest consumers (included inthe market evaluation study), 94 percent of respondents who had purchased aCFL said they would buy another even if coupons were unavailable. Sanders estimated that 75 percent to 80 percent of CFLs sold in 2002 werepurchased without coupons. "That is a very good sign," she said. The survey sample included 246 people who had purchased a CFL, 38 who hadreceived free CFLs from utilities, 316 who had purchased only incandescentbulbs in the three months preceding the survey, and 821 who were questionedabout CFL awareness. Another sign of market sustainability, the survey said, were the futureintentions of respondents who had purchased only incandescent bulbs. "Moresurprisingly, 64 percent of incandescent buyers indicated they intend topurchase a CFL in the next year. This is a strong potential indication ofthe sustainability of future CFL sales," the survey said. Efficiency Opportunity If so, there will be plenty of opportunity for CFLs to improve residentiallighting efficiency. The medium load forecast for the Northwest PowerPlanning Councils upcoming regional plan estimates that cost-effectiveresidential lighting efficiency potential will total an estimated 660average megawatts by 2025, said Tom Eckman, the councils conservationresources manager. Existing housing stock accounts for about 80 percent ofthat prospective resource, he added. That potential number doubled following a lighting log study carried out in160 homes by Tacoma Power, Eugene Water & Electric Board and other utilitiesin the late 1990s, Eckman said. The study found that homes have morelighting fixtures than previously thought and lights are being left onlonger. "We had an empirical basis to do a better forecast," Eckman noted. Falling Prices The consumer survey showed saving energy was the leading reason whyNorthwesterners bought CFLs in 2001. Even though energy no longer headlines the news, CFL energy savings remainattractive and falling product prices have helped the products hold theirown in the market, said Collin Cremo, assistant general manager for CostcosU.S. hardware purchasing division. "Pricing is going down and that is very positive for the consumer. You usedto pay $15.99 for a two-pack of bulbs. Now, you can get a four-pack for$11.99," Cremo said. The Alliance estimates average prices fell from $14-$28 per bulb in 1997 to$5-$10 in 2002. Large retailers such as Costco and Home Depot have led the market inoffering multibulb packages that have driven down prices, Sanders said.These two major retailers account for a significant share of Northwestsales, she said. In the consumer survey, 38 percent of CFL buyers indicated they hadpurchased the bulbs at a discount retailer. However, 35 percent said theynormally buy light bulbs at grocery stores, an indicator that supermarketscould be "an important retail target for increasing market penetration," thesurvey said. Manufacturer Interest The growing consumer interest in CFLs has attracted an influx ofmanufacturers to the market. Sanders said only 10 percent of the CFLs purchased in 2002 were made by thethree big multiproduct lighting companies--Philips, Osram Sylvania, and GE.Smaller manufacturers that sell only CFLs "are getting (shelf) placementwith better pricing because they are willing to cut deals with retailers,"Sanders said. Another reason CFLs are holding their own is the introduction of new bulbdesigns to suit consumer tastes. Keating said manufacturers are "responding to customer demands for productsthat fit in different applications. You can get bug lights, chandelierlights, recessed can lights, even green and red CFLs for holiday use. Youcan get really small ones. I have one that measures no more than 4 inchesfrom stem to stern." Keating said manufacturers understand they cant compete solely on price."They need to give customers something they can use." For example, consumers have asked for smaller bulbs, to which manufacturershave responded, said Matt Donati, CFL product manager for Philips Lightingin the U.S. "We sell eight-packs of 60-watt-equivalent lights that are small enough forlight bars in bathrooms," Cremo said. Donati believes consumers will be more receptive to CFLs that fit their ideaof what light bulbs are supposed to look like. "The key is to try to makethem as incandescent-appearing as possible," Donati said. "People see thespiral shape and it looks like curly fries. They ask, Whats that? If yougive them a bulb that looks more like a, quote, light bulb, they will bemore appealing." Philips Marathon family of compact fluorescents includes globe-like"A-shaped" bulbs that resemble incandescents, as well as conventionallydesigned CFLs. Sanders said Westinghouse plans to launch a "designer bulb" in differentcolors that will be specially suited to accent lighting typically providedby small halogen incandescent lights. Quality Issues Quality, however, remains a bugaboo afflicting the CFL market, Keating said.Despite continuing improvements, enough low-quality bulbs are on the marketthat the U.S. Department of Energy is concerned they reflect poorly on theEnergy Star label for energy-efficient consumer products, Keating said. Energy Star is a self-certification brand, so manufacturers are responsiblefor ensuring their products meet Energy Star standards. Unlike the applianceindustry, the residential lighting industry has not developed internaltesting protocols to make sure products are worthy of the Energy Star label,according to the Alliance. DOE has proposed changing Energy Star specifications to require CFLmanufacturers to submit long-term performance data before they can use theEnergy Star label. As a result of quality issues, the Program for the Evaluation and Analysisfor Residential Lighting (PEARL) has tested bulbs for quality since 2000.PEARL sponsors include BPA, Sacramento Municipal Utility District, PacificGas & Electric and energy efficiency utilities in the Northeast. Here is how PEARL works, according to a presentation at an Energy Starmeeting this year by Noah Horowitz of the Natural Resources Defense Council,chairman of the PEARL advisory board. Bulbs are purchased anonymously fromretail stores. Bulbs and ballasts are tested at Rensselaer PolytechnicUniversitys Lighting Research Center. Tests cover lighting and ballastperformance, lamp life, lamp start time, dimming, color rendition, powerfactor and other characteristics. Two testing cycles are carried out peryear. Ten fixtures and 20 CFL products are tested in each cycle. Horowitz said test results are given to Energy Star program managers at theDepartment of Energy and Environmental Protection Agency. The agencies canuse the information to remove the Energy Star label from substandardproducts. The recent growth in the CFL market "has attracted many new, unknown, and insome cases, unreliable manufacturers offering products with the Energy Starlabel," said an article about PEARL in a recent Alliance newsletter. Keating said PEARL is negotiating with manufacturers, distributors andretailers to share testing costs. "They want to get the bad products out ofthe market," he said. Costcos Cremo said "stricter tests" are needed to determine how well CFLsreally hold up when used in real-world environments such as inside fixtures.In comments on DOEs proposed Energy Star specification changes, NRDCpointed out that higher operating temperatures common in recessed canfixtures can shorten bulb life. NRDC also pointed out that CFL manufacturersoften change contract manufacturers and component suppliers, which canresult in uneven quality. Still, Keating said compact fluorescents have come a long way since the late1980s, when ungainly bulbs dominated what was then a tiny CFL market.Keating chuckled as he recalled a brand he nicknamed "Smoky Joes" because ofa bulb that overheated and began smoldering. In the consumer survey, only 3 percent to 4 percent of CFL buyers indicatedthey were dissatisfied with their purchases, and 78 percent of thedissatisfied indicated they were likely to buy another CFL in the comingyear. The leading reason for dissatisfaction, cited by 34 percent of thosenot satisfied, was that CFLs were not bright enough. Eleven percent citedearly burnout. Nearly 55 percent of CFL buyers who were satisfied with their purchaseslisted long product life as the leading reason for their satisfaction.Thirty-six percent cited energy efficiency, while 31 percent mentioned lightquality. CFL Barriers Cost remains the leading barrier to expanded CFL sales, according to theconsumer survey. Of the 316 respondents who had purchased incandescent bulbsonly, 38 percent listed price as a reason they had not purchased CFLs.Nineteen percent had not heard of CFLs, while 15 percent said they could notfind a type or size they wanted. One way around the price barrier, Philips Donati said, is to change theidentity of light bulbs from a commodity to a value product by educatingconsumers about the varying ways different kinds of lighting can be used todecorate their homes. "Show them how lighting adds value and how lightingcan be used to change the look of their homes," Donati said. He advocated expanded awareness of CFLs and their attributes. "I do the momtest," Donati said. "I show my mom a CFL and ask her, Whats this? Shedoesnt know. I say, Come on, mom, its a light bulb, I work for PhilipsLighting. People just arent as aware of them." In a May 2002 report, ECOS Consulting described barriers to CFLs in new homeconstruction. At least 11 parties--few with lighting design expertise--maybe involved in specifying new home lighting. Most new home energy efficiencyprograms do not address optimizing lighting or architectural designs thatcomplement daylighting, the report said. Home-buyers rank style and aesthetics as their highest lighting priority,ECOS said. "The more that energy-efficient lighting is designed to beattractive and aesthetic, the more marketable and permanent it will be, evenif this means giving up some potential energy savings to ensure consumersatisfaction," the report said. Lower prices, better quality, and expanded consumer awareness all will bekeys to building the CFL market, Keating said, observing that markettransformation often takes time. Costcos Cremo is confident CFLs eventually will replace incandescentsentirely. "From what Ive seen of the (CFL) technology lately, theincandescents days are numbered," he said. "I tell utilities to keepbombarding people with CFL information. Theyre going to get better andbetter." Reprinted with the permission from Con.Web. Back to Top Customers Put a Spotlight on Energy Conservation Scappoose Spotlight/Record-Journal As CFLs grow in popularity, the Northwest looks ahead to big energy savings and bulb recycling options... Now that North westerners have embraced compact fluorescent lights (CFLs), a decrease is on the rise in our regions energy use. Think about it! Approximately 6.5 million E NERGY S TAR ® CFLs alone were sold in only four states; Montana, Washington, Oregon, and Idaho. Over 1,400 northwest retailers and 90 electric utilities participated in last years E NERGY S TAR ® Residential Lighting Program; the Northwest region is leading the charge! If you take that number and compare it with the 381,000 CFLs that were sold in 2000, you can now understand the impact and change, which these CFLs have had on the consumers home lighting needs. Not only do CFLs save the environment by using less electricity, consumers will save up to $30 over the life of the bulb on their monthly electric bills. "The success of the E NERGY S TAR ® residential lighting program reminds us that together we can provide big energy savings, improve the health of our region's electric system and help protect the environment," said Margaret Gardner of the Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance. According to the NW Energy Efficiency Alliance, not only will savings be multiplied if every household replaces every ordinary light bulb with a CRL, but combined with other energy-saving products such as; clothes washers, refrigerators and home electronics their savings will be tremendous! The Alliance estimates that this and other regional programs will save over 460 aMW by 2010, enough to offset the need for building two new power plants in the NW region and taking approximately 600,000 cars off the road! Proper disposal of CFLs have been on the minds of many environmentalists for quite sometime. Currently, the Zero Waste Alliance, electric utilities and other environmental groups are working together researching opportunities for recycling. Although, CFLs contain a very small amount of mercury vapor, many environmentalists are concerned about recycling and proper disposal of CFLs. Their main concern is in 5 to 7 years from now, when the life of the CFL begins to fade. They want to encourage communities about proper disposal now, before large accumulations of CFLs end up in landfills. For the time being consumers can dispose of their CFLs with their household trash, along with other household materials such as paint, motor oil or batteries. Reprinted with permission from the Lynden Tribune/Record-Journal. Back to Top Northwest Leads the Nation in Energy Savings Effort Lynden Tribune/Record-Journal When it comes to buying more energy-efficient household products, the Northwest region is leading the charge. According to a recent report from the Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance, Washington home owners are snapping up energy-efficient products and local retailers are experiencing the impact. In response, BPA residential customers got to work, conserving. Among other things the customers installed millions of low-energy, fluorescent light bulbs. The bigger message here? Big energy savings do not necessarily have to come from big industrial users. People, individual users in their homes, are a very important part of the environmental equation. " Nearly 80% of respondents in a survey of 152 independent and national retailers in the Northwest estimate an increase in sales of E NERGY S TAR ® qualified products over last year, the Alliance report said. Fourth quarter of 2001 sales data shows that the Northwest region ranked first in the nation for sales of qualified clothes washers with more than 30 percent market share. In Washington, nearly 32 percent of all clothes washers sold were E NERGY S TAR ® qualified - the second highest in the nation. "We're seeing a lot of interest from customers in E NERGY S TAR ® qualified clothes washers and that's sparking interest in other energy-efficient products, including dishwashers and refrigerators," said Dave Blankenship of Weir's Appliances in Tacoma. "As people replace home appliances, they're opting for the most energy-efficient models available." Sales of E NERGY S TAR ® qualified refrigerators also increased in the Northwest. Based on fourth quarter reports, Washington ranks sixth in the nation for sales of high efficiency refrigerators. The alliance also reported brisk sales and interest for E NERGY S TAR ® qualified lighting including compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs). Fourth quarter sales of CFLs in the Northwest were two million. The retailers who were surveyed said consumers are more energy conscious and seek long-term value and savings when purchasing appliances. Nearly all consumers express interest in the water savings features of E NERGY S TAR ® qualified clothes washers and dishwashers as well. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, when it comes to buying energy-efficient products, the Northwest is heading in the right direction. The voluntary E NERGY S TAR ® labeling program was created by the EPA and the Department of Energy to help consumers easily identify products that save energy, money and protect the environment. Manufactures play a major role in developing products that meet higher efficiency standards and utilities help encourage homeowners to be more energy efficient by offering rebates and incentives for switching to E NERGY S TAR ® qualified products. The cooperative effort is paying off. Experts estimate by using E NERGY S TAR ® qualified products, a typical household can cut its utility bills by 30 percent. If everyone in the U.S. used the products, the reduction in greenhouse gas emission would be equivalent to taking 14.5 million cars off the road each year. The national annual energy bill would be reduced by about $100 billion over the next decade. Local efficiency advocates say that while the increasing demand for E NERGY S TAR ® qualified clothes washers and refrigerators is a positive sign, there is still room for improvement. "It's clear that Northwest consumers understand the benefit of using more efficient clothes washer, refrigerators and lighting in their homes," said Margaret Gardner, executive director of the Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance. "Now, the goal is to encourage them to take advantage of even greater savings by looking for and buying other E NERGY S TAR ® qualified products." By changing their shopping habits, Northwest homeowners can keep a little more change in their own pockets, say energy efficiency experts. Changing the way Americans shop and buy products is a part of the major new campaign called "Change," spearheaded by the Environmental Protection Agency. "Change" is calling on homeowners throughout the nation to help save money ad protect the environment by selecting and buying E NERGY S TAR ® qualified products. For a complete list of E NERGY S TAR ® qualified products, retailers, manufactures and energy savings information, call 1-888-373-2283 or log on to www.energystar.gov . The Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance, a non-profit group of electric utilities, state governments, public interest groups and industry representatives, promotes the E NERGY S TAR ® label to Northwest consumers. By funding the Northwest E NERGY S TAR ® Home Products Program, the alliance is bringing affordable, energy-efficient products and services to the market, helping Northwest consumers realize long-term savings and protect the environment. Reprinted with permission from the Lynden Tribune/Record-Journal. Back to Top Energy Newsbriefs at CON.WEB CONWEB is the Pacific Northwest Energy Conservation & Renewable Energy Newsletter, reporting regional conservation news. National Leader ACEEE Study Lauds Oregon for Energy Efficiency, Green Building Tax Incentives Oregon is a national leader in using tax incentives to give energy-efficient products and green buildings a leg up in the marketplace, according to a new study by the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy. Oregon's residential and business income tax credit programs have "gained enthusiastic support from legislators, retailers, and manufacturers, as well as consumers," since they were established in response to the 1970s energy shortages, the study said. More news available at www.newsdata.com/enernet/conweb/conweb.html . Back to Top U.S. EPA E NERGY S TAR ® News Room E NERGY S TAR ® provides consumers with energy-efficient solutions that save money while protecting the environment for future generations. Find out what the media is saying about E NERGY S TAR ® at www.epa.gov/nrgystar/news.html Whitman Accepts Charles H. Percy Award For the E NERGY S TAR ® Program October 9, 2002 - U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Christie Whitman todaywas presented with the Charles H. Percy Award for public service by theAlliance to Save Energy. This award was given to EPA for establishing theE NERGY S TAR ® program, a public-private partnership that helps protect theenvironment while saving consumers money through energy efficiency. "Over the past decade, EPA's E NERGY S TAR ® program has grown from a voluntarycomputer labeling program to a partnership with over 7000 organizations,"said Whitman. "Last year alone, Americans, with the help of E NERGY S TAR ®,saved more than $5 billion in energy costs and reduced pollution equivalentto that of 10 million cars. We look forward to working together for the nextdecade to help consumers across the country have the information they needto make the best choices for their lives and for the environment." "In just a decade, the E NERGY S TAR ® program has grown in both depth andbreadth," said Alliance to Save Energy President David M. Nemtzow. "Now, notonly are many more products included in the program than at its launch in1992, but in addition, the E NERGY S TAR ® label is taking the energy efficiencymessage to consumers and businesses around the globe via partnerships withother governments. You can't get much better than a program that both savesconsumers money and protects the environment." Through the E NERGY S TAR ® program, EPA partnerships include over 1,200manufacturers labeling more than 13,000 products and over 1,600 buildersthat have constructed over 57,000 new homes. Through E NERGY S TAR ®, EPA hasalso helped thousands of businesses and schools rate their energy use. The typical American household spends about $1,300 a year on its energybills. By purchasing products that have earned EPA's E NERGY S TAR ® label,that bill could be cut by about 30 percent, which is a savings of about $400a year. The E NERGY S TAR ® label can now be found on more than 35 differentcategories including telephones, televisions, light bulbs and homeappliances such as dishwashers and refrigerators. By choosing E NERGY S TAR ®,there is no sacrifice in the features, style or comfort that today'sconsumers expect. As part of his National Energy Plan, President Bush called for increasedpublic awareness of the E NERGY S TAR ® program and its benefits to consumersand businesses. The President also called for the expansion of the programto provide the label for additional building types including grocery stores,hospitals and hotels. EPA established E NERGY S TAR ® in 1992 to offer energy-saving andpollution-preventing solutions for consumers and businesses by awardinglabels to the most energy efficient products, homes and buildings. EPApartnered with the U.S. Department of Energy in 1996 to promote the ENERGYSTAR label, with each agency taking responsibility for particular productcategories. For more information about the E NERGY S TAR ® program visit: www.energystar.gov . Back to Top E NERGY S TAR ® Helps America Keep Cool This Summer Cooling Solutions that Save Energy, Money, and Protect the Environment Homeowners across the nation have been challenged by E NERGY S TAR ®, a program sponsored by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and supported by the Department of Energy, to make smart cooling choices at home this summer, use energy more efficiently, and help reduce air pollution. Working closely with businesses and utilities, E NERGY S TAR ® launched a consumer-education campaign, called Cool Change. This campaign raises American's awareness of their cooling system - encouraging homeowners to use energy-efficient equipment, tightly seal their ducts, properly maintain their cooling system, and have a well-sealed and insulated home. According to the EPA, Americans spend as much as half of their energy bills to cool and heat their homes throughout the year. To make it easy for consumers to make a Cool Change this summer, E NERGY S TAR ®'s partners are offering incentives, such as rebates and sales. For a complete list of special deals, visit www.energystar.gov/coolchange . "E NERGY S TAR ® is a great way for each of us to make a change - one that will protect the environment, save money, and achieve energy efficiency," said EPA Administrator Christie Whitman. "I encourage all Americans to follow our recommendations for energy efficiency and join our campaign for change." The EPA estimates that if just one household in 10 participated in Cool Change and used E NERGY S TAR ® labeled heating and cooling products, the change would reduce electricity production enough to keep 17 billion pounds of pollution out of the air this year. To help consumers identify easy ways to avoid energy-waste this summer, the EPA released the following tips: Out with the old, in with the new. If your central air conditioning equipment is more than 10 years old, it is probably time for a replacement - new cooling equipment that has earned the E NERGY S TAR ® label can keep you just as or more comfortable, while using 25 to 40 percent less energy than 10-year-old models. Replacing old ceiling fans and dehumidifiers with new E NERGY S TAR ® labeled models can also help to lower your energy bills and keep your home comfortable. Seal it up. Seal your ducts to distribute cool air where it needs to go and improve the indoor air quality of your home. Keep the cool air in by adding insulation to your home, weather-stripping and caulking, and choosing E NERGY S TAR ® labeled windows when replacing old windows. Make a smart purchase. When replacing central and room air conditioning equipment, make sure it is properly sized and installed. Bigger is not always better, and equipment that is too large can lead to high energy costs and reduced comfort. Find problems before they occur. If your cooling equipment needs frequent repairs and your bills are increasing, it could mean your equipment is becoming less efficient. E NERGY S TAR ® recommends having an annual maintenance check-up by a certified professional. Put your home to the test. Find out how you can make energy-efficient improvements to your home with the Home Improvement Toolbox. Visit www.energystar.gov and click on "Put your home to the test." E NERGY S TAR ®, the nation's symbol for energy efficiency, enables consumers to easily identify energy-efficient appliances, electronics, office equipment, lighting, heating and cooling equipment, buildings, and even new homes. For more information about E NERGY S TAR ® and the Cool Change consumer-education campaign, visit www.energystar.gov/coolchange or call 1-888-STAR-YES (1-888-782-7937). FOR MORE INFORMATION: Wendy Reed, 202-564-1253, or email her at Reed.Wendy@epa.gov or Phillip Hayes, 202-944-1933. Back to Top What is E NERGY S TAR ® ? E NERGY S TAR ®-qualified bulbs and fixtures provide high quality light output,warm or cool tones, are efficient and long-lasting, and save them money overthe life of the bulb or fixture. There are numerous compact fluorescentlights (CFLs) in the market, but only E NERGY S TAR ® qualified CFLs canguarantee top-notch performance. E NERGY S TAR ® CFLs last up to ten timeslonger than incandescent bulbs and use up to 75% less electricity as well. E NERGY S TAR ® was introduced by the US Environmental Protection Agency in 1992as a voluntary labeling program designed to identify and promoteenergy-efficient products, in order to reduce carbon dioxide emissions. EPApartnered with the US Department of Energy in 1996 to promote the E NERGY S TAR ®label, with each agency taking responsibility for particular productcategories. E NERGY S TAR ® has expanded to cover new homes, most of thebuildings sector, residential heating and cooling equipment, majorappliances, office equipment, lighting, consumer electronics, and moreproduct areas. Please visit www.energystar.gov .

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rental property or houses

LettingSearch Property to Rent property to rent in UK Property Rentals property to rent . Search Panel: County Please select a county... Aberdeen City Antrim Bedfordshire Berkshire Bristol City Buckinghamshire Cambridgeshire Cardiff City Cheshire City of Edinburgh Cumbria Derbyshire Devon Dorset Down East Sussex East Yorkshire Essex Fife Gloucestershire Greater London Greater Manchester Gwent Hampshire Herefordshire Hertfordshire Kent Lancashire Leicestershire Lincolnshire Lothian Merseyside Norfolk North Yorkshire Northamptonshire Northern Ireland Nottinghamshire Oxfordshire Somerset South Ayrshire South Gloucestershire South Yorkshire Staffordshire Suffolk Surrey Tyne and Wear Warwickshire West Midlands West Sussex West Yorkshire Wiltshire Town/Village Please select a county first... No. of bedrooms All 1 bed 2 bed 3 bed 4 bed or more Exclusive Min Rent: Max Rent: Postcode: (eg CB4, SW1) 5260 properties available rent property UK property rent property UK rent rental flats houses Lettings Agents property rent property to-let sitemap Lettingsearch Welcome to www.lettingsearch.co.uk The UK's first 'Letting-only', 'banner-free', 'no-fuss' web site! Letting Search is a national lettings database, collecting property data from all associated local LettingSearch sites and property agents. Using our on-line update system, property agents can upload their available property to let. This is the only site you will need to find quality property to rent or houses to let in your area, so why not Register for property to let updates via email now! It's easy to do and it's free! When a new house to rent is added, or property to rent details are updated by one of theagents using this web site, you will be the first to know! Property Rent lettingsearch Cannot find the area you are looking for? You can use the postcode finder for a wider scope, or view our site directory to look for another local lettingsearch site. Property Let lettingsearch We have complete property listings - Our sites contain detailedinformation about the available houses to rent in lettingsearch and it's surroundingarea, all of which have been added and regularly updated by the property agents.Our system is 100% on-line and the agents have complete control of what islisted and is always up to date. When the agent updates a property to letinstruction, it is immediately available. Letting Agents lettingsearch Thank you for visiting and remember to bookmark the site by clicking the image at the top of this screen! - You can even recommend this site to your friends by clicking the 'Email a Friend' icon. FASTER, EASIER and more LOGICAL please see our Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy lettingsearch home | directory | agents | landlords | tenants | Commercial | links | Hosting Welcome to Lettingsearch a national directory of houses and property to rent, collecting rental data from local letting agents. This is the only site you will need to find quality rental property or houses to rent in your area or UK , so why not register for property to rent updates via email now! It's easy to do and it's free! When a new house to rent is added, or property to rent details are updated by one of theagents using this web site, you will be the first to know! We have complete property listings - These contain information about the properties to hire or rent in UK and it's surroundingarea, all of which, added and updated by letting agents in and around UK. Looking for property to rent? Click the search button on the left! Click the 'recent additions' button for a list of properties added in the last 7 days Email the Agents. If you still cannot find your ideal property to rent, you can send an email to all of the letting agents subscribing to this site by clicking the 'Agents' tab or by clicking email ALL letting agents if you are looking for rental acommodation then this letting site for homes, flats acommodation and real estare properties is for you. renting real estate letting agents, hire rental homes and renting or buy property Using lettingsearch will help you find acommodation in your area. Simply sign up via our 'register' link. Thank you for visiting Home | Directory | Agents | Landlords | Tenants | Links | Contact Us

Texas Land for Sale

Texas Real Estate, Texas Luxury Homes, and Texas Land for Sale Texas Real Estate Search Results Texas Luxury Homes and Texas Land for Sale HOME | SITE MAP | SEARCH | LUXURY HOMES | WHAT'S NEW | EMAIL THIS PAGE | UPDATE ME BY EMAIL | SIGN IN | PRINT Your search returned 3 Texas Properties Find More Luxury Real Estate and Land for Sale | Show All Texas Private Communities Properties 1 through 3 of 3 1 Mountain Springs Homesites Canyon Lake, Texas $40,000 To $100,000 Mountain Springs Ranch Newly opened hilltop neighborhood with jaw-dropping views-- many extending over 20 miles. Approximately half of the homesites overlook the adjacent 85-acre nature preserve so views will never change. The community is offering exceptional promotions during the early development phase. Read More about this Texas Land for Sale 2 Robert S. Thornton Great Homes Model San Antonio, Texas $959,000 4 Bedrooms 4 Full Baths 1 Half Bath Cordillera Ranch Spectacular Robert S. Thornton Great Homes model. Featured in the May issue of Country Lifestyle Magazine. 4 bedrooms (master down), 4.5 baths on 4+ acres. The separate Master Suite and gourmet kitchen must be seen to be appreciated. Wet weather creek and 43 acre neighbor enhance the privacy for... Read More about this Texas Real Estate 3 The Peninsula Spring Branch, Texas Mystic Shores at Canyon Lake Recently opened neighborhood in the exclusive gated section of The Peninsula. Neighborhood is surrounded by water on three sides and located on Canyon Lake where the Guadalupe River feeds into it. These homesites are among the best in the community offering both lake and river frontage as well as... Read More about this Texas Land for Sale Properties 1 through 3 of 3 Pick One - They're ALL Great! Albemarle Plantation - Hertford, North Carolina Bald Head Island - Southport, North Carolina Balsam Mountain Preserve - Sylva, North Carolina Barefoot Resort and Golf - North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina Bay Creek - Cape Charles, Virginia Bay Harbor - Bay Harbor, Michigan Bear Lake Reserve - Cashiers, North Carolina Bear River Lodge - Hot Springs, North Carolina Bedford at Falls River - Raleigh, North Carolina Berkshire Forest - Myrtle Beach, South Carolina Biltmore Lake - Biltmore Lake, North Carolina Brays Island Plantation - Sheldon, South Carolina Canyon Ridge - Lookout Mountain, Georgia Carriage Park - Hendersonville, North Carolina Champion Hills - Hendersonville, North Carolina Chapel Ridge - Chapel Hill, North Carolina Colleton River Plantation - Hilton Head Island, South Carolina Colonial Heritage - Williamsburg, Virginia Cordillera Ranch - San Antonio, Texas Cotton Bay - Rock Sound, Eleuthera Creston - Black Mountain, North Carolina Daniel Island - Charleston, South Carolina Dataw Island - Dataw Island, South Carolina DeBordieu Colony - Georgetown, South Carolina East Haven - Covington, Georgia Fairvue Plantation - Gallatin, Tennessee Fawn Lake - Fredericksburg, Virginia Ford's Colony - Williamsburg, Virginia Fox Acres Country Club - Red Feather Lakes, Colorado Glenmore - Charlottesville, Virginia GlenRiddle - Berlin, Maryland Governors Club - Chapel Hill, North Carolina Grand Harbor - Vero Beach, Florida Grand Haven - Palm Coast, Florida Grande Dunes - Myrtle Beach, South Carolina Grande Vista Bay - Rockwood, Tennessee Greenbrier Sporting Club - White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia Haig Point - Hilton Head Island/Daufuskie Island, South Carolina Hammock Beach - Palm Coast, Florida Hammock Dunes Private Community - Palm Coast, Florida Hampton Hall - Bluffton, South Carolina Harbour Ridge YCC/HR Properties - Palm City, Florida Heritage Hunt Golf and Country Club - Gainesville, Virginia Heritage Shores - Bridgeville, Delaware Indian River Club - Vero Beach, Florida Indian River Colony Club - Viera (Melbourne), Florida Jefferson Landing on the New River - Jefferson, North Carolina Kiawah Island - Kiawah Island, South Carolina Kicking Horse Mountain Resort - Golden, British Columbia Kingsmill on the James - Williamsburg, Virginia Lake Jovita - Dade City, Florida Longleaf at Callaway - Pine Mountain, Georgia MiraBay - Apollo Beach, Florida Mission Inn's Las Colinas - Howey-in-the-Hills, Florida Montreux - Reno, Nevada Mount Vintage Plantation - North Augusta, South Carolina Mountain Air - Burnsville, North Carolina Mountain Springs Ranch - Canyon Lake, Texas Mystic Forest at Queens Lake - Nantahala, North Carolina Mystic Shores at Canyon Lake - Spring Branch, Texas North Hampton - Fernandina Beach, Florida Oakbridge - Lakeland, Florida Oldfield - Okatie, South Carolina Oleta Falls - Hendersonville, North Carolina Osprey Cove - St. Marys, Georgia Pinnacle Falls - Hendersonville, North Carolina Piper's Landing Yacht & Country Club - Palm City, Florida Private Escapes Platinum Destination Club PUNTACANA Resort & Club - Punta Cana, Higuey, Dominican Republic Quail Ridge Country Club - Boynton Beach, Florida Quail West - Naples, Florida Quechee Lakes - Quechee, Vermont Rarity Pointe - Lenoir City, Tennessee Renaissance - Fort Myers, Florida Reunion Resort & Club - Reunion, Florida Reynolds Plantation - Greensboro, Georgia River Dunes - Oriental, North Carolina River Hall - Fort Myers, Florida River Landing - Wallace, North Carolina River Oaks - Savannah, Georgia Roaring Fork Club - Basalt, Colorado Rock Barn Golf & Spa - Conover, North Carolina Roosevelt Ridge Private Reserve - Boulder, Colorado Rose Hall - Montego Bay, Jamaica Santeetlah Lakeside - Lake Santeetlah, North Carolina Savannah Lakes Village - McCormick, South Carolina Savannah Quarters - Savannah, Georgia Seabrook Island - Seabrook Island, South Carolina Seawatch at Sunset Harbor - Southport, North Carolina Sharp Mountain Preserve - Jasper, Georgia Somersby Park - Hendersonville, North Carolina Southbridge - Savannah, Georgia Southern Hills Plantation Club - Brooksville, Florida Southern Woods - Homosassa, Florida Spring Island - Spring Island, South Carolina Spruce Creek Country Club by Del Webb - Summerfield, Florida St. James Plantation - Southport, North Carolina Sugarloaf Country Club - Duluth, Georgia Superstition Mountain Golf and Country Club - Superstition Mountain, Arizona Symphony Village - Centreville, Maryland Tellico Village - Loudon, Tennessee Tesoro - Port St. Lucie, Florida Teton Springs - Teton Valley, Idaho The Abaco Club on Winding Bay - Marsh Harbour, Bahamas The Cliffs at Walnut Cove - Asheville, North Carolina The Cliffs Communities - Travelers Rest, South Carolina The Enclave - Savannah, Georgia The Ford Plantation - Richmond Hill, Georgia The Landings on Skidaway Island - Savannah, Georgia The Peninsula on The Indian River Bay - Millsboro, Delaware The Powder Horn - Sheridan, Wyoming The Ramble - Asheville, North Carolina The Reserve at Lake Keowee - Sunset, South Carolina The Reserve at Litchfield - Pawleys Island, South Carolina The Retreat - Lewisburg, West Virginia The Ridges at Mountain Harbour - Hayesville, North Carolina The Settings of Black Mountain - Black Mountain, North Carolina The Settings of Mackay Point - Jasper County, South Carolina Tidelands - Palm Coast, Florida Trillium - Cashiers, North Carolina Tucan Country Club & Resort - Balboa, Panama Turks & Caicos Sporting Club - Providenciales, Turks And Caicos Islands Verrado - Buckeye, Arizona Virginia Heritage at Lee's Parke - Fredericksburg, Virginia Vista at Bill's Mountain - Lake Lure, North Carolina Vista at The Riverbank - Tryon, North Carolina Wakefield Plantation - Raleigh, North Carolina WaterColor - Seagrove Beach, Florida Waterfall at Lake Burton - Clayton, Georgia Waterford of the Carolinas - Leland, North Carolina West Bay Club - Estero, Florida Winchester Country Club - Meadow Vista, California Windswept - Morristown, Tennessee Woodside Plantation - Aiken, South Carolina Wyboo Plantation - Manning, South Carolina Arizona California Colorado Delaware Florida Georgia Idaho Maryland Michigan Nevada North Carolina South Carolina Tennessee Texas Vermont Virginia West Virginia Wyoming Bahamas Canada Dominican Republic Jamaica Panama Turks And Caicos Islands Destination Clubs and Luxury Travel New! 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Real Estate Prices This

The Scoop » Chicago Real Estate Prices -- Home About Projects The Fix Tags The Scoop Derek Willis’ weblog on investigative and computer-assisted reporting. Your Host Hi, I'm Derek , CAR geek, IRE member and Apple user. This is the permanent link for the entry Chicago Real Estate Prices This post has been tagged as Illinois . Related entries: Rock River Valley Sales Tax Receipts Illinois Government Pensions Crime Inc. Still separate, unequal Illinois Pork Spending Towards Crisis Chicago School Fire Violations Illinois Air National Guard Training Chicago Payback Illinois School Days Unpaid Fines Unused Transit Passes Drunk Driving Boys and Girls Chicago School Integration Illinois Speeders Chicago's Middle Class Chicago Park Lands Public Credit Card, Private Expenses Preserving Politicians Hidden Donations to Cook County Sheriff Unused Sick Days Chicago's Do-Nothing Trucks Illinois' Moving Property Hospital Insurance Policy All About Acevedo Madison County Asbestos Litigation Illinois Judicial Campaign Money Blago Donors Get State Jobs Cook County Forest Preserve Housing Illinois Securities Fraud Settlement Chicago Contracting Illini Hoop Tickets Chicago Recycling Chicago School Sex Offenders Cook County Overtime Illinois Nursing Home Sex Offenders Illinois Congressional Travel Chicago Subsidized Housing Illinois School Employees Chicago Hispanic Democratic Organization Illinois School Discipline Illinois Traffic Stops "Massive fraud" in Chicago city hiring Illinois Engineering Donors Illinois Crime Statistics Peoria Siren Warning System Chicago Mortgage Fraud Chicago Vacant Land Deals Northwest Indiana Crime Rates The Mercury Menace Categories Apple (12) Asides (129) Broadcast (37) Car Tools (60) Data (97) DIY (361) Fed Data (318) FOIA (198) IRE (22) Journalism (95) Local Data (379) Mapping (51) Miscellany (49) NonGov Data (30) Online (16) Paper Trail (653) Public Records (78) Python (25) Social Network Analysis (2) State Data (524) XML (34) September 2005 M T W T F S S « Aug Oct » 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 « Peoria Siren Warning System Brevard County Disaster Planning » Chicago Real Estate Prices Posted on Friday, September 16th, 2005 at 4:31 pm. Filed Under NonGov Data . Mary Umberger, Geoff Dougherty, Sharon Stangenes, John Handley and Wayne Faulkner of the Chicago Tribune used local property data from the Chicago Association of Realtors to show that “ property on the South Side and in the south suburbs is hot , with price appreciation in the year ended June 30 exceeding the 10-year average annual price growth in many metro neighborhoods and towns. At the same time, however, one-fourth of 319 Chicago-area communities saw home appreciation drop below their 10-year annual averages.” No responses to 'Chicago Real Estate Prices'. RSS feed for comments and Trackback URI for 'Chicago Real Estate Prices'. Leave a Comment Name (required) Mail (will not be published) (required) Website Choose from Full RSS or comments RSS feeds. XHTML sometimes validates, whilst CSS should also validate. -- The Scoop is powered by WordPress 1.5.1.3 and delivered to you in 0.711 seconds. Design by Matthew . Administrator login and new user registration .