(03/29/2016 - ATLANTA) - The E.P.A. (EPA) and the D.O.E. (DOE) are honoring Nissan North America, Inc., Eastman Chemical Company, E3 Innovate, LLC, Habitat for Humanity of Greater Nashville for their commitment to saving energy and protecting the environment through superior energy efficiency achievements. These Tennessee-based honorees are among 149 businesses and organizations in 35 states to gain the honor. Recipients of the 2016 Energy Star Partner of the Year Award include Beazer Homes, The Home Depot and Verizon.
"This year's Partner of the Year Award winners prove every day that saving money and protecting the environment go hand in hand," said E.P.A. Administrator Gina McCarthy. "From major household brands to school districts, these leaders deserve to be congratulated for their commitment to reducing carbon pollution and protecting our climate."
"Energy Star Partner of the Year Award winners help families, individuals, and businesses become more energy efficient," said Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz. "By offering energy-efficient products, services, and programs, this year's awardees continue to provide Americans with lower utility bills, new jobs, and fewer greenhouse gas emissions."
Since its inception in 1992, Energy Star and its partners, including the 149 Partners of the Year awardees, have helped prevent a total of in excess of 2.4 billion metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions. In 2014 alone, Energy Star and its partners provided in excess of $11 billion in societal benefits due to reducing damages from climate change.
Nissan is receiving ENERGY STAR® Partner of the Year-Sustained Excellence recognition for its continued energy management performance, improvement, and promotion of energy efficiency. Guided by its Nissan Green Plan (NGP), Nissan's global energy efficiency strategies have been implemented to support the company's environmental philosophy: Symbiosis of People, Vehicles, and Nature. Nissan has maintained ENERGY STAR certification of its automobile assembly plants for ten consecutive years while earning certification at 6 office buildings. Since becoming an ENERGY STAR partner in 2006, Nissan has saved in excess of 5.34 trillion British thermal units, equivalent to the amount of energy needed to drive a Nissan LEAF™ in excess of 4.7 billion miles. Nissan has expanding support for ENERGY STAR certification of K-12 schools.
Specialty chemical company, Eastman Chemical Company, is receiving ENERGY STAR® Partner of the Year-Sustained Excellence in Energy Management recognition for the richness of its energy management Plan and support of external organizations. The Kingsport-based company improved its energy intensity by 9 percent since 2008, avoiding $30 million in energy costs in 2015. By focusing on the energy efficiency of a core manufacturing process, distillation, through work with 2 universities, Eastman is able to move forward with the development of a new energy-saving technology. The local school system received assistance from Eastman in measuring and managing energy in its buildings using ENERGY STAR resources.
E3 Innovate is receiving ENERGY STAR Partner of the Year - New Home Builder and Affordable Housing recognition for its outstanding contributions to rating ENERGY STAR certified homes. E3 Innovate, LLC is committed to improving the built environment through the facilitation and verification of ENERGY STAR® certified homes, serving clients in the Middle Tennessee residential building community for 8 years. The company has certified 49 homes with a cumulative total of in excess of 400 ENERGY STAR certified homes since its inception in 2008.
Habitat for Humanity of Greater Nashville (HHGN) has been making energy efficient homeownership a reality for low-income families since 2006. The organization constructed 32 new, affordable ENERGY STAR certified homes across 4 counties with a cumulative total of in excess of 400 certified homes built. Over 8,000 volunteers have been trained by HHGN annually on ENERGY STAR building practices and checklists. Habitat for Humanity of Greater Nashville is receiving ENERGY STAR® Partner of the Year-Sustained Excellence - New Home Builder and Affordable Housing recognition for its continued support in protecting our environment by building truly affordable, ENERGY STAR certified homes.
Read more about each award winner's achievements: www.energystar.gov/awardwinners
Partner of the Year - Sustained Excellence: The 93 Sustained Excellence winners continue to demonstrate remarkable leadership each year in the Energy Star Plan while remaining committed to environmental protection through superior energy efficiency.
Partner of the Year: Forty-seven organizations have been awarded the Partner of the Year award for strategically and comprehensively managing their energy use. These organizations promote Energy Star products and practices in their own operations, while providing energy-efficient products and services to their customers.
Contractor of the Year: 6 of the winners are winning at least in part for their superior efforts in promoting the Home Performance with Energy Star program, which is administered by the D.O.E. with support from EPA.
Climate Communicator: The 6 Climate Communicator winners, all of whom are also Sustained Excellence awardees, have raised their customers' awareness of the impacts of climate change. Through their efforts, these partners illustrate how energy-efficient behaviors have a positive impact on the environment while encouraging customers to save energy and protect the climate.
Excellence: 3 winners are receiving recognition for demonstrating outstanding promotion of energy-efficient products, homes, or buildings.
Energy Star has 16,000 partners working to protect the environment through greater energy efficiency, including manufacturers, retailers, public schools, hospitals, real estate companies and home builders.
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 $362 billion on utility bills, while reducing greenhouse gas emissions by more 2.4 billion metric tons since 1992. Join the millions who are already making a difference at energystar.gov.
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