The campaign encourages increasing the efficiency of home cooling systems. To do this, the EPA offers tips such as: replacing old cooling equipment with high-efficiency Energy Star-qualified equipment; checking and sealing duct systems; replacing air filters; and sealing homes to keep excess air from escaping through leaky attics, doors, and windows.

While nearly half of annual energy bills go to heating and cooling costs, the EPA estimates that homeowners who choose energy-efficient heating and cooling equipment that is properly sized and installed can save as much as 20 percent on their annual energy costs. Energy Star-qualified products use less energy, which means less air pollution and a cleaner environment, says the agency. If one in 10 U.S. households used heating and cooling equipment that has earned the Energy Star, the change would prevent an estimated 17 billion pounds of air pollution, the EPA says.

Energy Star is making "Cool Change" promotional and marketing materials available to HVACR contractors at no cost, including ready-to-print fact sheets for contractors and an energy efficiency guide for homeowners, marketing material templates, and sales training tools. This material can be accessed directly from ACCA's Web site at www.acca.org.

Also, through its partnership with Energy Star, ACCA has launched a new version of the association's Contractor Locator, which enables contractor members to identify themselves as being knowledgeable about Energy Star-qualified HVAC equipment. ACCA members can go to www.acca.org/update.html to qualify to add the Energy Star logo to their online listing.

Publication date: 07/26/2004