by Shane Henson — March 29, 2013—The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) recently named the recipients of the 2013 Energy Star Partner of the Year Award, an honor created to recognize businesses and organizations for their commitment to saving energy and protecting the environment. Energy Star is an EPA-led voluntary program that helps businesses and individuals save money and protect the climate through superior energy efficiency.
Recipients of the 2013 Energy Star Partner of the Year Award include Sears Holdings Corporation, PepsiCo, JC Penney, Food Lion, USAA Real Estate, Loudoun County Public Schools in Virginia, and Toyota.
The winners were chosen from nearly 20,000 Energy Star partners, including manufacturers, retailers, public schools, hospitals, real estate companies and others, for their long-term commitment to climate protection through greater energy efficiency, says the DOE. Energy Star partners complete a rigorous application process that demonstrates their commitment to the partnership and the environment.
Organizations are recognized in the following categories:
- Partners of the Year—Sustained Excellence: The 70 Sustained Excellence winners continue to exhibit exceptional leadership year after year in the Energy Star program while remaining dedicated to environmental protection through superior energy efficiency.
- Partners of the Year: Forty-one organizations are receiving a 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, in addition to providing efficient products and services to consumers and within their community.
- Excellence: Seven winners are receiving awards in part for their superior efforts in the Home Performance with Energy Star program. The remaining organizations receive Excellence Awards and other special recognition for specific activities to promote energy-efficient products, homes or buildings.
For more than two decades, American consumers and businesses have continued to save energy and protect the environment through the Energy Star program, says the DOE. In 2012 alone, Americans, with the help of Energy Star, saved $24 billion on their energy bills and prevented greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to those of 41 million vehicles. To date, more than 1.4 million new homes and nearly 20,000 office buildings, schools, and hospitals have earned the Energy Star. Since 1993, more than 4.5 billion Energy Star-certified products have been sold.
