EnviroNews
For Immediate Release:
February 10, 2007
or Ted Burton, 512-476-4368
Global Challenges Loom as EnviroMedia Turns 10
New Research Reveals Most Americans Don't Know Where Their Electricity Comes From
(AUSTIN, Texas)—EnviroMedia Social Marketing will celebrate its 10th anniversary Feb. 10 with commendations from Congressman Lloyd Doggett and Texas Secretary of State Roger Williams, a Joint House Resolution by Texas State Representatives Mark Strama and Patrick Rose, and a proclamation by Austin Mayor Will Wynn.
The agency celebrates its anniversary with the unveiling of a refreshed brand and new tagline — EnviroMedia Social Marketing: Change Starts Here — and with the release of new research revealing Americans don’t understand the connection between electricity and climate change.
“We’re going to enjoy this milestone in our agency’s history, but then it’s back to work,” said Kevin Tuerff, EnviroMedia president and principal. “With pressing issues like global warming, smoking and water conservation, opportunities abound for EnviroMedia to do meaningful work, grow our business and most important, help improve the world.”
EnviroMedia's research comes a week after the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change released its first volume of its “Climate Change 2007” report revealing people’s reliance on fossil fuels is the primary culprit of global warming.
“Our survey showed nearly 60 percent of Americans don't know where their electricity comes from,” said Valerie Davis, EnviroMedia principal and CEO. “Only 16 percent of respondents named coal as their fuel source, yet the U.S. Department of Energy reports that 50 percent of electricity in U.S. homes is powered by coal, and coal-fired power plants contribute to global warming."
"The disparity in knowledge is great," said Tuerff. "That’s one reason why we’ve added ‘Social Marketing’ to our name. It better reflects that we are in the business of educating people and getting them to make positive choices regarding their health and the environment.”
Low Connection of Electricity, Climate Change
EnviroMedia’s telephone survey of 1,015 U.S. adults, conducted by Opinion Research Corporation Jan. 11-14, also revealed findings about other fuel sources. In the bulleted list below, the first number shows the electricity fuel source percentages in America as provided by the Department of Energy followed by what respondents were able to cite when asked, “When you turn on your light switch, what fuel is the source of your electricity?”
- 19 percent comes from natural gas; 7 percent cited natural gas
- 19 percent is fueled by nuclear power; 7 percent cited nuclear power
- 9 percent comes from hydroelectric and other renewable energy sources; 12 percent cited renewable
Thirty-five percent said they didn’t know, while another 23 percent said their electricity comes from “electricity” or the “electric company.”
“There’s some encouraging results from the research,” said Davis. “The people who could name their energy source are more willing to phase in compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) or are already using them. That’s one of the easiest things all of us can do to impact global warming.”
When it was explained that CFLs cost significantly more than traditional incandescent bulbs but cut electricity consumption and emissions of greenhouse gases, 30 percent said they’d be willing to phase in CFLs as the other bulbs burn out, and a surprising 31 percent said they are already using CFLs. Another 3 percent were willing to change all their bulbs to CFLs immediately.
“Wow,” said Wendy Reed, Energy Star Campaign Director at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. “CFLs had only a 5 percent market share in 2005, so it’s encouraging to me to that Americans really seem to be taking action.”
A total of 64 percent of American households are either already using or willing to use CFLs. According to the EPA’s “Change a Light, Change the World” campaign, if 64 percent of American households change five incandescent bulbs to Energy Star lights, $9.5 billion in energy costs would be saved, and 155 billion pounds of carbon dioxide emissions would be avoided over the bulbs’ lifetime. That's the equivalent of preventing the (greenhouse gas) emissions of 2.5 million cars.
Ten Years of Change
Ten years ago, founders Kevin Tuerff and Valerie Davis left jobs with the State of Texas to start EnviroMedia. One of their first projects was to develop a partnership to launch Texas Recycles Day nationally — that’s how America Recycles Day (November 15) was born and thanks to EnviroMedia’s pioneering efforts, ARD is also marking its 10th year in 2007.
Over the years, EnviroMedia has been able to make great progress on various health and environmental campaigns:
- Achieved a 33 percent reduction in litter on Texas rights-of-way since 2001 ("Don’t Mess with Texas," Texas Department of Transportation)
- Helped curb a projected 200 million gallons of water a day in drought-stricken North Texas during peak day use despite a 26 percent population increase ("Water IQ," North Texas Municipal Water District)
- Forty-one percent fewer middle and high school students using tobacco products (Youth Tobacco Prevention, Texas Department of State Health Services)
- Educated Texans about electronic voting and voting rights in 2006 as part of Help America Vote Act ("VoTexas," Texas Office of Secretary of State)
- 937,800 Medicare and Medicaid clients received vital health information concerning the New Part D Prescription Drug Program in 2006 (Medicare Part D Awareness/Education, Texas Health and Human Services, Texas Department of State Health Services)
EnviroMedia Social Marketing has recently added new clients and campaigns to its roster. EnviroMedia will assist Tetra Pak, a global company that produces aseptic packaging like milk, juice and broth cartons, with its U.S. and Canadian sustainability program. EnviroMedia is also working with the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services on its “Why Not Me?” campaign to promote adoption of older children.
Anniversary Celebration
EnviroMedia Social Marketing will celebrate its 10th anniversary at a private event Saturday night for current and former clients and employees. The celebration will feature music by the Austin Children’s Choir and Inside Out Steel Band, and will include an interactive tribute to the agency’s first 10 years.
Media is invited to cover the event on Saturday, Feb.10, from 6:30 to 9 p.m. EnviroMedia is located at 1717 West 6th Street, Suite 400, in Austin, Texas.
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