GE Lighting Offers Energy-Efficient Tips for Homeowners in Time for Earth Day On April 22; ``Top Ten Energy Saving Tips'' Saves on Energy Bills.

Business & Home Editors

CLEVELAND--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 12, 2001

When Senator Gaylord Nelson created Earth Day nearly 30 years ago, his goal was to alert Congress that U.S. citizens were concerned about our environment.

And it worked. Since then, Congress has enacted a number of major environmental laws to protect our air, water, land and wildlife.

Keeping the environment "green" starts in our very own homes. There are a number of steps we can personally take to conserve energy. To offer assistance, GE Lighting has created a simple list of "Top Ten Energy Saving Tips for Home" that will help conserve energy -- and save money -- throughout the year:

1. Use Your Ceiling Fan. On warmer nights, ceiling fans are an

energy-efficient alternative to air conditioning by making

your home feel cooler for less. Conversely, in cooler climates

ceiling fans can help redirect a room's heat by placing the

fan in "reverse" motion.

2. Replace Your Light Bulbs With Compact Fluorescent Products.

Lighting accounts for approximately five to seven percent of a

home's energy costs. GE Lighting's full line of compact

fluorescent light bulbs provide significant energy savings

over standard incandescent bulbs that they are designed to

replace -- from $26 to $86 over the life of the bulb -- and

are now available in sleek new designs, such as the Spiral,

Incandescent Shape and Post Light, with long life limited

guarantees of five to eight years. Also available in select

3-Way and Dimmable versions.

3. Caulk Around Windows and Doors. A basic tip, yet caulking can

quickly stop air infiltration and increases energy savings.

And if you need to replace your windows, look for low

U-factor. The lower the U-factor, the greater the heat

transmission savings.

4. Look For ENERGY STAR(R) Approved Products. When shopping for

appliances or compact fluorescent light bulbs, look for

products that have received ENERGY STAR(R) certification --

meaning that the products meet guidelines for energy

efficiency as set by the EPA and Department of Energy.

5. Install a Light Dimmer. This simple device can help you save

on your lighting costs. For example, an incandescent light

dimmed by 25 percent can save 10 percent on energy use and

extend the life of the bulb.

6. Use High-Efficiency Fireplace Inserts. These new products are

the most efficient indoor air quality and heating alternative

to wood, wax or gas logs because they help to recirculate

heated air through the room and allow for a more controlled

damper (which helps prevent hot air from escaping through the

chimney). They are also cleaner and easier to operate.

7. Install Motion Detecting Devices. Easy to install, GE's Motion

Sensing Switches and Night Lights save energy by automatically

lighting only when the room is in use and movement is detected

-- great for hallways and bathrooms.

8. Install a Whole House Attic Fan. This energy saving device

also increases comfort. Another recommended addition to the

attic is high R-value attic insulation. The higher the

R-value, the greater the insulating performance.

9. Place a Water Heater Blanket Around Your Water Heater. The

combination of a water heater blanket and setting the

thermostat to 120 Degrees will help save energy. In addition,

select the most energy-efficient water heater you can afford,

considering operating costs on the yellow energy label.

10. Insulate Pipes. This inexpensive tip can dramatically save on

energy -- simply upgrade pipes exposed to the cold.

For more information regarding GE Lighting's energy-efficient products, please visit www.GELighting.com or call 1-800-GE-LAMPS.

One of the General Electric Company's major businesses, GE Lighting is headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio. A leader in lamp technology, manufacturing and marketing in the global lighting industry, GE Lighting has operations in North America, South America, Europe and Asia. Today, the company manufactures approximately 7,000 various lamp products for commercial, industrial and consumer markets.