As colder weather creeps in and electricity bills creep up, more Americans will be looking for ways to better manage their energy consumption. Now Lowe's is making it easier for consumers to save energy and money with its nationwide launch of the Energy Center.

After a successful start last December in 21 California stores, Lowe's today announced it has brought the one-stop destination for energy-saving products to all U.S. stores. The Energy Center is retail's first truly integrated energy solution, bringing products that measure, reduce and generate energy to one convenient location to meet consumers' individual energy needs.

"The Energy Center builds on Lowe's commitment to bring more innovative products and services to our customers," said Nick Canter, Lowe's executive vice president of merchandising. "By pulling together comprehensive options to help them manage their energy use, the Energy Center makes it easier for customers to become more energy efficient while putting money back in their pocket."

Lowe's is the first major retailer to offer many of these products in one place, putting solar technology alongside ENERGY STAR® qualified CFLs to provide a wide range of solutions that empower consumers to measure their energy use, reduce energy consumption and generate renewable energy.

Measure

• The first step to saving energy is tracking where it’s going. The handheld Black & Decker® Thermal Leak Detector ($49.99) makes it easy to find energy leaks in the home. An LED light changes color to indicate changes in temperature around windows, doors and in the attic. Sealing the gaps and cracks, and properly insulating, can save a homeowner up to 20 percent on heating and cooling costs, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.


• The Kill A Watt™ EZ ($34.97) by P3 International measures how much appliances really cost to operate. Simply plug the appliance into this device, which plugs into the wall outlet and accurately displays projected costs by week, month or year. It also can measure how much money standby items such as TVs and computers cost when not in use. For more power monitors, including whole-home energy monitors like The Energy Detective ($240) from Energy Inc., visit Lowes.com.

Reduce

• Once drafty gaps have been identified with a Thermal Leak Detector, save energy and save money by sealing them with caulk, weatherstrip or insulating foam. These products, along with energy savers such as CFLs, programmable thermostats and dimmer switches that Lowe's sells throughout the store, have been consolidated in the Energy Center to make it easier for customers to tackle energy efficiency as a project.


• The average U.S. household spends more than $500 over five years to power devices while they are off (or in standby mode), according to the EPA. Eliminate that power loss, and the need to fumble around under the computer desk, with Choose Renewables' Bye Bye Standby ($19.97). The set of remote-controlled outlets easily plugs into a power strip or electronic devices and switches them on and off individually, or together, with the touch of a button.

Generate

• Lowe's Energy Center also is helping consumers take their first step into solar power. The Solar Lite flashlight ($18.97) by Hybrid Light can hold a charge for up to three years. Charge it once by exposing it to any light source, natural or artificial, and store it until needed. It's durable and waterproof.
  
• For those seeking power on the go, Sunforce's 1.8-watt Solar Battery Maintainer ($19.97) and 5-watt Solar Battery Trickle Charger ($49.97) use the power of the sun to maintain a full capacity 12-volt battery. The maintenance-free panels work with cars, SUVs, RVs, boats and other vehicles, and can plug directly into a vehicle's charging port.


• Consumers who own their homes and have ample sunny, south-facing roof space also might be candidates for Westinghouse Solar's 180-watt AC solar panels ($893 per panel). Winner of a 2009 Popular Mechanics Breakthrough Product Award, the panels are available in the Energy Center at select Lowe's stores and can be purchased through special order at all Lowe's locations.

Lowe's has won eight consecutive ENERGY STAR awards for its leadership as a retailer of energy-efficient products and in 2010 became the first winner of the ENERGY STAR Sustained Excellence Award in Retail. To get started on saving energy and money, visit Lowe's in-store Energy Center. For more inspirational ideas and projects, go to Lowes.com/EfficientHome.

About Lowe's
With fiscal year 2009 sales of $47.2 billion, Lowe’s Companies, Inc. is a FORTUNE® 50 company that serves approximately 15 million customers a week at more than 1,700 home improvement stores in the United States, Canada and Mexico. Founded in 1946 and based in Mooresville, N.C., Lowe's is the second-largest home improvement retailer in the world. For more information, visit Lowes.com.

Lowe's Companies, Inc.

Lowe's Companies, Inc.

Lowe's (NYSE: LOW) is a proud supporter of Habitat for Humanity International, American Red Cross, United Way of America, and the Home Safety Council, in addition to numerous non-profit organizations and programs that help communities across the country. Lowe's Charitable and Educational Foundation awards more than $3 million annually to diverse organizations across the United States. Lowe's also encourages volunteerism through the Lowe's Heroes program, a company-wide employee volunteer program aimed at preventing unintentional home injuries. Lowe's, a FORTUNE(R) 50 company with fiscal year 2003 sales of $30.8 billion, has more than 1,050 stores in 46 states.

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