by Brianna Crandall — April 10, 2015—The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced on April 6 that they are honoring 128 businesses and organizations in 33 states with the Energy Star program’s Partner of the Year award for their commitment to saving energy and protecting the environment through superior energy efficiency achievements. The awards will be presented in Washington, DC, on April 20.
(Click on image to enlarge)
The awardees are saving energy in their own facilities as well as helping customers save 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 awardees, reportedly prevented more than 300 million metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions and reduced utility bills by $34 billion.
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. Their actions cover a wide range of approaches to energy efficiency, including the projects highlighted below.
General Motors Company (Detroit, MI), among other accomplishments, launched a new funding source called the Chevrolet Clean Energy Campaign in 2014 after realizing the lack of large-scale energy efficiency projects on the voluntary carbon market. The campaign enables universities to accelerate their impact and save money on utility bills while engaging students in making a positive change for the climate.
Hanesbrands (Winston Salem, NC) reduced carbon emissions by more than 24% and water use intensity by 31% in addition to increasing the use of cotton yarn from recycled fabric to reduce the need for water, fertilizer, and herbicides, all energy-intensive inputs to cotton growth.
JCPenney (Plano, TX) gained Energy Star certification for more than 100 of its buildings in 2014, bringing the company total to 618 certified buildings, which include stores, one distribution center, and the corporate headquarters in Plano, Texas. The company is also partnering with school districts such as Kenton County School District in Kentucky to expand students’ experience in managing their school’s energy to the business world of managing energy in a retail store and fostering an energy conservation culture, having found that 42% of the company’s energy savings can be attributed to actively engaged associates.
Staples, Inc. (Framingham, MA) reduced carbon emissions by 36% over a 2001 baseline through energy efficiency and green power investments, despite a revenue growth of 130% over the same period. The company re-certified 250 buildings in 2014, for a total of 650 Energy Star certified buildings nationwide.
A complete list of this year’s Partner of the Year and Sustained Excellence award winners as well as more details about each winner’s achievements are available on the 2015 Energy Star Award Winners Web site.
