A Highly Placed Source

Don’t misunderstand this. We love Barack Obama. We think he and his new administration will be not only the fresh leadereship the USA desperately needs, but also brings a hope for a better earth. Neverthelss, when we saw the following news this morning we could not help but chuckle a bit at how Mr. Obama’s name is being invoked by pitchmen hawking products. Yes, they may be fine, energy efficient products, but still, it’s something to keep an eye on. Here is the story…

Answering Barack Obama’s call for community service, ReChargeAmerica.org has been launched to help Americans save $600 or more per year on energy costs and contribute to the revitalization of the American economy simply by tuning up their homes for energy efficiency. ReCharge was created by a three person team, Lisa Renstrom, Stacey Williams, and Steve Boyd and supported by Clean Tech for Obama (CT4O), a volunteer network of clean tech and green business leaders and ecoAmerica, a socially entrepreneurial non-profit. It offers Americans easy steps and helpful tools to start saving money on their energy bills, with additional steps to share the savings with their friends and neighbors.

“With volatile energy prices hurting the national economy and family budgets, every American has a stake in resolving the nation’s energy crisis and we all have a role to play,” said Lisa Ling, a special correspondent for the National Geographic Channel, CNN’s Planet in Peril and the Oprah Show. “ReCharge America shows Americans how they can serve their country and communities while saving money by making their homes more energy efficient.”

The ReCharge America Home Energy Savings Tune-Up Kit offers 10 easy steps for Americans to make their homes more energy efficient. The campaign is supported by a public service announcement video narrated by journalist, Lisa Ling, produced by Stacey Williams and directed by Matt Keener. The initiative is a grass roots effort using online communications, teleconference training, neighborhood and online social networks to connect with and engage volunteers across the nation. The video and toolkit help Americans take the key first steps on home energy savings, inspires them to reach out to their neighbors, and provides information on next steps, grants and programs that can lead to even bigger savings for our homes and nation.

“This is a chance for Americans to take the lead in the economic recovery. As the President-elect has said, the campaign wasn’t about him, it was about the American people,” said Bob Perkowitz, CEO of ecoAmerica. “Like the Victory Gardens of World War II, Recharge America empowers Americans to rebuild their communities through simple but crucial actions to save energy.”

Local in focus, but national in reach, ReCharge America is based on the concept that a critical action that each American needs to take to get the nation back on track is to use energy efficiently at home.

“The steps toward energy efficiency are easy, and many Americans have likely wanted to take them for some time. Now, as part of the National Day of Service, they have an even greater reason to start.” said Lisa Renstrom, Co-Chair of ReCharge America. Stacey Williams, Co-Chair and producer of the PSA, said that, “Saving energy is patriotic, and ecoAmerica and CT4O are proud to lead the charge on making our homes and communities as energy efficient as possible, generating a brighter future for America.”

In recent years, broad consensus has emerged that residential energy use is one of America’s biggest opportunities to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and boost the economic productivity. While new policy leadership at the federal level will aid these actions, local and personal actions are also required.

“Recharge America’s goal for the National Day of Service is to whet the appetite of Americans to make their homes more energy efficient - saving money and serving the nation at the same time,” said Steve Boyd, Co-Chair of ReCharge America. “These low-cost energy saving solutions are the ultimate win-win, serving both American households and the nation. With these first steps, in the spirit of Renewing America Together, people across the nation can work together in their homes and neighborhoods, beginning broader efforts to put America back on track. To recharge the American dream, we must become the most energy productive country in the world and a key part of that road ahead begins in each of our homes and neighborhoods.”

So, what did you think? Is it crass commercialism or simply tapping into the times? Today the light bulbs, tomorrow what? Perhaps “President Obama says we should all be healthier, so eat this vitamin-enriched breakfast cereal.” As I said, it’s something to keep your eyes open for.