EPA Celebrates 20th Anniversary of Energy Star

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 15, 2012
EPA Celebrates 20^th Anniversary of Energy Star
Americans saved nearly $230 billion in two decades
WASHINGTON – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is kicking off the celebration of Energy Star's 20^th anniversary by recognizing the 2012 Energy Star award winners for their outstanding leadership and commitment to protecting America’s environment through superior energy efficiency. Over the past 20 years, with help from Energy Star partners, American families and businesses have saved about $230 billion on utility bills and prevented more than 1.7 billion metric tons of carbon pollution.

"As we celebrate 20 years of progress through the Energy Star program, EPA is proud to congratulate the 2012 Energy Star award winners," said EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson. "Thanks to their innovative thinking and commitment to energy efficiency, these leaders are helping Americans find cost-effective ways to save energy in everything we do, which is good for our environment, our health and our future."

The 109 Energy Star award winners were chosen from nearly 20,000 partners from across the nation. Organizations are recognized in one of four Energy Star award categories: corporate commitment, sustained excellence, partner of the year, and excellence in delivering specific promotions.

Corporate Commitment: Sears Holdings Corporation is being recognized with the highest honor, the Energy Star corporate commitment award. This award is reserved for partners whose superior achievements in energy efficiency span the breadth of the Energy Star program.

Sustained Excellence: Fifty-seven sustained excellence winners continue to raise the bar across their respective industries for outstanding achievements in energy efficiency. A few of these winners include: Food Lion Family, Bloom, and Bottom Dollar Food; GE Appliances & Lighting; Gresham-Barlow School District; Hanesbrands Inc.; Nissan North America, Inc.; PepsiCo, Inc.; and Saint-Gobain.

Partner of the Year: Thirty-six organizations are receiving partner of the year awards for protecting the environment through energy efficient products, practices and services. These organizations promote Energy Star products and practices in their own operations, and provide efficient products and services to consumers within their community. A few of these winners include: Cleveland Clinic; Colgate-Palmolive Company; General Motors Company; Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.; Staples, Inc.; and The Boeing Company.

Excellence: Fifteen organizations are recognized with an excellence award for advancing energy-efficient products, homes, or buildings and helping to expand the reach of the Energy Star program. A few of these winners include: Design Tech Homes; DIRECTV; Good Earth Lighting, Inc.; and Sharp Electronics Corporation.

Launched in 1992 by EPA, Energy Star is a market-based partnership to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through energy efficiency. Last year alone, Americans, with the help of the Energy Star program and its partners, saved approximately $23 billion on their energy bills while preventing greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to the annual emissions of 41 million vehicles. To date, more than 1.3 million new homes and nearly 16,500 buildings across all 50 states have earned EPA's Energy Star certification. Today, the Energy Star label can be found on more than 60 different kinds of products with more than 5 billion sold over the past 20 years.

Complete list of 2012 award winners: www.energystar.gov/awards

More information on Energy Star 20^th Anniversary: www.energystar.gov/20th