While being "green" has increasingly become a year-round priority for consumers, Earth Day remains a day that truly puts energy efficiency top of mind.  This year, the annual holiday marks a momentous milestone by celebrating its 40th anniversary.  In commemoration, North American lighting leader and pioneer in sustainable lighting, OSRAM SYLVANIA, is announcing its 40 for the Future Earth Day Challenge to rally and inspire consumers to save a collective 40 million kilowatt hours (kWh) of energy in the 40 days leading up to Earth Day on April 22, 2010.

The 40 for the Future Earth Day Challenge is designed to show consumers how easy it can be to "green" their lifestyles, their homes, their offices and their communities.  Specifically, the campaign challenges consumers to take every day actions that will collectively save 40 million kilowatt hours of energy between March 14 and April 22, 2010.

"The SYLVANIA 40 for the Future Earth Day Challenge was created to encourage a collaborative commitment to our natural resources and remind people that there are a variety of ways to make a difference," said Jennifer Dolin, OSRAM SYLVANIA manager of sustainability and environmental affairs.  "While 40 million kWh might sound like a big number, the small actions we take every day can have a big impact when combined." 

To put numbers into perspective, 40 million KWh is the amount of lighting used annually in 20,513 homes and is the equivalent of lighting all the homes in the city of Boston, Massachusetts for about 30 days(1).  And it's not just lighting – simple actions, such as unplugging a phone charger or turning down the thermostat by one degree can mean big savings for both the environment and your wallet. 

Dolin says, "The goals of this campaign are to save 40 million kilowatt hours by April 22 as well as motivate energy-efficient lifestyle practices that go beyond Earth Day."

How the SYLVANIA 40 for the Future Earth Day Challenge Works

Consumers and businesses in the United States and Canada are invited to enter their commitment as to how they will contribute to the 40 for the Future Earth Day Challenge at http://earthday.sylvania.com.  Participants can check the progress of the challenge and how many kilowatt hours of energy have been saved thanks to a real-time online meter. 

The site is pre-populated with several energy-efficiency actions for the home and the office.  Participants need only select the actions they choose to take for 40 days, and their energy savings will automatically be tallied.

All those who take the SYLVANIA 40 for the Future Earth Day Challenge will be rewarded with a coupon for $1-off the new SYLVANIA Halogen SUPERSAVER® or a SYLVANIA CFL, valid at participating retail locations in the United States.  In addition, one entry each day, for 40 days, will be selected in a random drawing to receive a new SYLVANIA 40 watt replacement LED Ultra light bulb and weekly winners will be selected in a random drawing to receive annual passes to The National Parks system.  Finally, a Grand Prize Winner will be the lucky recipient of a carbon-neutral, three-night Disneyland® vacation for four that includes airfare, hotel and park passes.  Daily winners and campaign updates will be announced on Twitter @SYLVANIA.  

Paying It Forward to the Next Generation

To offset(2) the carbon emissions from the Grand Prize Winner trip, SYLVANIA is offering the chance for one lucky classroom to receive a lighting upgrade.  This drawing is offered to K-12 educators in a public or private school in the United States and eligible entrants must take the lessons of the "40 for the Future Earth Day Challenge" to their students.  To help, SYLVANIA has provided links to tools for educators to help teach students about the importance and environmental benefits of energy-efficient practices and how easy they can be.

For more information about the 40 for the Future Earth Day Challenge and SYLVANIA's innovative and energy-efficient lighting products for the home and office, please visit http://earthday.sylvania.com.  Here you will also find online coupons for SYLVANIA ENERGY STAR® qualified compact fluorescent light bulbs, including the Micro-Mini and Living Spaces™ CFLs, and the SYLVANIA Halogen SUPERSAVER® light bulb.