04/06/15 - ATLANTA, Georgia - The E.P.A. (EPA) and the D.O.E. (DOE) are honoring 128 businesses and organizations in 33 states, including 4 in the Commonwealth of Kentucky, with the Energy Star's Partner of the Year award for their commitment to saving energy and protecting the environment through superior energy efficiency achievements. Awardees are helping families save money by saving energy in innovative ways including working with utilities to offer rebates to customers, creating more efficient products, and launching efficiency projects.
In 2014 alone, Energy Star partners, including the 128 Partners of the Year awardees, prevented in excess of 300 million metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions and reduced utility bills for Americans by $34 billion.
"Our Energy Star Partner of the Year award winners demonstrate that energy efficiency is a smart business decision that supports their bottom line, and helps their customers save money and energy," said
E.P.A. Administrator Gina McCarthy. "I congratulate our Energy Star Partners of the Year for their leadership and commitment to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and taking action that will help us leave a healthier planet for future generations."
The awards will be presented in Washington, DC, at the Marriott Wardman Park Hotel on April 20th. E.P.A. Administrator McCarthy and Jim Gibbons, Goodwill Industries International President and CEO, will provide keynote remarks.
"Energy Star Partner of the Year Award winners are delivering advanced energy efficiency solutions that help American families and businesses save money by saving energy," said
Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz. "Their efforts play an important role in protecting the environment by reducing greenhouse gas emissions, while also moving our nation closer to a clean energy future."
This year's awardees include manufacturers, retailers, public schools, hospitals, real estate companies, home builders and other businesses and organizations, from Fortune 500 companies to small businesses. Several organizations are first-time Energy Star Partner of the Year awardees.
Partner of the Year-Sustained Excellence
Energy Management
Kenton Co. School District | Fort Wright, Kentucky
KCSD is receiving ENERGY STAR® Partner of the Year-Sustained Excellence recognition for its significant commitment to building and operating energy efficient schools and for using ENERGY STAR tools and resources as a central component of its energy program. The district built a near net zero school, which costs less to build than the national median at $200 per square foot. This year in excess of $1.4 million in avoided energy costs were realized and in excess of 6.8 million since 2005 by incorporating ENERGY STAR best practices into the district's behavioral management program. One more school has received ENERGY STAR certification, bringing the total number of ENERGY STAR certified schools to twelve out of 17 schools in the district.
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Incorporated Erlanger, Kentucky
Toyota is receiving ENERGY STAR® Partner of the Year-Sustained Excellence recognition for its continued efforts and industry leadership in industrial energy management. The company improved energy intensity by one percent per vehicle and water consumption by ten percent per vehicle compared to the previous year. Total energy savings since 2002 are valued at $580 million. In addition, Toyota has been actively developing a Supply Side Management Strategy with a goal of leveling utility costs for the next 7 years.
Partner of the Year - Energy Efficiency Plan Delivery
Kentucky School Boards Association | Frankfort, Kentucky
KSBA is receiving ENERGY STAR® Partner of the Year recognition for its commitment to intelligent energy choices for new and existing public schools, in order to enhance both the environment and educational opportunities for the Commonwealth's 645,000 public school students. It is achieving in excess of $48 million in avoided energy costs, and reducing electricity usage across the state by in excess of 339 million kilowatt hours since 2010. The Frankfort-based organization is assisting Kentucky school districts in formulating and implementing energy management projects using the seven-step ENERGY STAR Guidelines for Energy Management. Those efforts have contributed to an increase in the number of ENERGY STAR certified schools in Kentucky from-12 to in excess of 265 since 2008-by helping fund and facilitate the inclusion of ENERGY STAR resources and tools in schools' energy manager training.
Partner of the Year - Energy Management
Scott Co. Schools | Georgetown, Kentucky
Scott Co. Public Schools is receiving ENERGY STAR Partner of the Year recognition for its effective use of ENERGY STAR tools and resources in it energy management plan. All of the school buildings in the district earned ENERGY STAR® certification. The school system reduced energy use by in excess of 17 percent compared to its 2010 baseline; and thereby, improving its average, portfolio-wide one - 100 ENERGY STAR score from 71 to 88 compared to its 2010 baseline.
See the full list of winners and read more about their achievements at:
www.energystar.gov/awardwinners
Energy Star has over 16,000 partners working to protect the environment through greater energy efficiency, including manufacturers, retailers, public schools, hospitals, real estate companies, and home builders.
Complete list of winners:
www.energystar.gov/awardwinners
*Denotes first-time Partner of the Year Award winners
Energy Star is the simple choice for energy efficiency. For in excess of 20 years, people across America have looked to EPA's Energy Star Plan for guidance on how to save energy, save money, and protect the environment. Behind each blue label is a product, building, or home that is independently certified to use less energy and cause fewer of the emissions that contribute to climate change. Today, Energy Star is the most widely acknowledged symbol for energy efficiency in the world, helping families and businesses save $300 billion on utility bills, while reducing carbon pollution by 2 billion metric tons since 1992. Join the millions who are already making a difference at energystar.gov.
