DOE and Disney Join Forces to Promote Energy Savings

Having a hard time convincing your kids to adopt good energy-saving habits? If you could use a little help, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and Disney recently announced that they are cooperating in a nationwide campaign to promote energy efficiency through a TV spot based on the upcoming film Disney*Pixar film Ratatouille. Energy advice from a rat that cooks? It just might work!

"Combining the energy expertise of the Department of Energy with the promotional ingenuity of Disney is a unique way to raise energy awareness," said DOE Secretary Samuel W. Bodman. "I hope this will be the first project in a continuing effort to leverage the resources of the entertainment industry and government to encourage smart energy choices."

Featuring the Ratatouille characters Remy, Emile and Skinner, the 30-second animated spot encourages viewers to switch from incandescent light bulbs to EnergyStar® compact fluorescent lighting (CFL) and points them to the energy.gov website for more tips on saving energy or using renewable energy technologies in the home.

Beginning June 15, the spot will air on cable networks nationwide, with a particular emphasis in northern portions of Virginia as well as in northern and southern California, and will continue through the summer. While the spot points out that energy can be used in a variety of ways, it emphasizes that it can be used more efficiently by employing technologies such as CFLs.

To view the spot and get tips on saving energy visit www.eere.energy.gov/consumer.