|      |      |   |   

PJC Takes EPA's Energy Star Challenge
10/8/2009 

 

Continuing its commitment to energy efficiency on all three campuses, Pensacola Junior College is taking the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Energy Star Challenge.

The college is participating in the national call-to-action under the direction of Shannon Keithley, PJC’s energy education specialist.

“PJC is taking the Energy Star Challenge to promote energy awareness and smart choices on our campuses, as well as throughout the communities we serve,” Keithley says. “By making energy-efficient choices at home, work and school, we can reduce our energy use and save money while protecting the environment."

The Energy Star Challenge, launched by EPA in March 2005, calls for an energy-efficiency improvement of 10 percent or more for the more than 5 million commercial and industrial buildings in the United States. Energy is often generated by burning fossil fuels, which emits greenhouse gases. Forty-five percent of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions are caused by buildings and industrial facilities. Making more efficient use of energy is the best starting point for reducing our carbon footprint and saving money.

Today, leading companies realize energy efficiency is not only the first step to being green, it is also smart business, reports the EPA. Energy-efficiency improvements can yield a high return on investment and are necessary to remain competitive. Businesses, organizations and governments that are leaders in energy efficiency use about 30 percent less energy than their competitors.

For more information, contact Keithley at 484-1175, skeithley@pjc.edu.