Aug 11, 2008
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT:
Jim Philipps
202-942-4220
jphilipps@naco.org
LEE COUNTY challenges residents, employees to "change the world" and drive smarter
FORT MYERS, FL – LEE COUNTY is challenging its residents and employees to "change the world" and "drive smarter" as part of the National Association of Counties (NACo) national competitions Change the World, Start With ENERGY STAR Campaign and the Drive $marter Challenge.
The Change the World campaign, formerly the Change a Light campaign, is an energy efficiency campaign in which counties collect pledges from county employees and residents to not only change a light in their home to an energy efficient one, but to also take other actions to save energy. Energy-saving actions could include power managing computers, choosing ENERGY STAR appliances, or properly programming their home thermostats.
The Drive $marter Challenge is a fuel-efficiency campaign launched May 20 by The Wal-Mart Foundation, NACo and 16 additional diverse public and private-sector partners to help U.S. consumers lower their gasoline costs by using less. The campaign offers effective money- and gas-saving tips in English and Spanish and extensive additional resources – all aimed at keeping more money in drivers' pockets and reducing the number of costly trips to the pump.
LEE COUNTY has accepted both of NACo's challenges.
Three winning counties (one each from a small, medium and large county) from this year's Change the World competition will receive 1,000 free compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) from Office Depot. In addition, Office Depot will offer each individual who takes the pledge a 10 percent discount on its new Office Depot Green Brand compact fluorescent light bulbs, valid beginning Aug. 1.
Three winning counties (again, one each from a small, medium and large county) from this year's Drive $marter Challenge will receive 1,000 bottles of fuel additive/cleaner- products from AutoZone to help vehicles become more fuel-efficient. In addition, each participant in the Drive $marter Challenge will receive valuable coupons from Exxon Mobil and AutoZone. Pledge collections for both competitions will be taken through Nov. 30.
The Drive $marter Challenge campaign partners are the Alliance to Save Energy, Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers, American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators, American Driver and Traffic Safety Education Association, American Petroleum Institute, AutoZone, Inc., Car Care Council, ExxonMobil, League of American Bicyclists, NACo, National Association of State Energy Officials, National Independent Auto Dealers Association, National Low Income Energy Consortium, Natural Resources Defense Council, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Safety-Kleen, U.S. EPA's SmartWay®, and The Wal-Mart Foundation.
For more information about the NACo's role in the Change the World, Start With ENERGY STAR Campaign and the Drive $marter Challenge, contact Kelly Zonderwyk at 202-942-4224 or visit www.greencounties.org/competitions.
The National Association of Counties (NACo) is the only national organization that represents county governments in the United States. Founded in 1935, NACo provides essential services to the nation's 3,066 counties. NACo advances issues with a unified voice before the federal government, improves the public's understanding of county government, assists counties in finding and sharing innovative solutions through education and research, and provides value-added services to save counties and taxpayers money. For more information about NACo, visit www.naco.org.