AUSTIN, Texas – April 1, 2009

To educate Americans how saving money can also save the planet, Whole Foods Market and Bosch Home Appliances, a DOE 2009 ENERGY STARÒ Partner of the Year, have joined forces with a 30-day call-to-action campaign called “Make a Green Change”, as part of the U.S. Department of Energy's national ENERGY STAR Make a Cool Change effort. With so much of the nation's attention justly focused on the economy, April's “Make a Green Change” campaign at Whole Foods Market's stores and Web site reminds Americans that environmental responsibility can go hand in hand with economic recovery.

Last year, Americans, with the help of ENERGY STAR, saved $19 billion on their energy bills and reduced greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to those of 29 million cars. Unfortunately, there are still a lot of old refrigerators and freezers out there needlessly draining the grid of valuable power. U.S. households have 44.5 million fridges over 10 years old, 12.7 million of which are secondary units, often in basements and garages. Of this total, 6.1 million primary and 4.1 million second refrigerators are at least 20 years old. And older freezers are common; 16.9 million homes have freezers more than 10 years old-that's 44 percent of all freezers. Combined, the inefficient freezers and refrigerators noted above use $4.9 billion per year in energy costs.[i]  By unplugging and properly recycling these units, their scrap metal can be reused and their coolant and insulation can be properly disposed. This practice also prevents old units from being refurbished and resold to lower income Americans, the very people who can least afford high energy bills.

During the month of April, Whole Foods Market will turn its stores into Earth Month Action Centers. Customers and members of the community are encouraged to take home a free

Make a Green Change: 30 Ways in 30 Days

calendar. This colorful calendar can be posted on the family refrigerator to encourage one lifestyle change per day during Earth Month that can save money and better protect the environment for the whole year and beyond.

 “Supporting smart environmental practices has been part of our core values since we opened our doors nearly 30 years ago. We feel most of our customers share that passion too,” said Michael Besancon, Whole Foods Market Senior Global Vice President of Purchasing, Distribution, and Marketing. “This simple, personal-steps approach to a complex, global issue will further educate and empower people who want to set positive change into motion.  Even seemingly slight decisions can have a big impact on the environment.”

By posting the calendar on the centerpiece of the kitchen – the refrigerator – shoppers are reminded to visit www.wholefoodsmarket.com/earthmonth to learn all about refrigerator recycling; use DOE's ENERGY STAR savings calculator to see how much their fridge costs to run compared to an ENERGY STAR model; and enter to win a whole bunch of Earth friendly prizes. Whole Foods Market's

Recycle Your Old Refrigerator Sweepstakes

provides a chance to win one of 11 Bosch Evolution refrigerators, stuffed with Earth-Friendly natural and organic foods hand-picked by Whole Foods Market. There is also an Earth Month trivia game where families can learn how to make responsible, healthy changes to their daily routines and test their green knowledge.

Bosch was a natural fit for the grand prize because it is the only U.S. manufacturer to have the ENERGY STAR qualification on all its product models in every major appliance category the program rates. The DOE's 2009 ENERGY STAR Partner of the Year award also recognizes Bosch for demonstrating environmental stewardship in every facet of its business, including breakthrough product advancements that raise efficiency; a global, low-impact manufacturing process; and partnerships with sustainable construction and design leaders. “When we learned about the Make a Green Change program, we could not wait to get involved,” said Holger Fietz, director of strategic brand marketing and channel management for Bosch. “If even a small percentage of the 61 million energy-wasting refrigerators and freezers were replaced with an ENERGY STAR rated model this year, the economic and environmental tide can begin to turn, to benefit all Americans for years to come.”

 


[i]

Residential Energy Consumption Survey, 2005.