News Releases from Region 04
Four North Carolina Companies Honored as EPA 2016 Energy Star Partners of the Year for Sustained Excellence/In 2014 alone, all Energy Star partners prevented 283 million metric tons of GHG emissions, providing $31.5 billion in economic benefits
ATLANTA - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) are honoring 149 businesses and organizations in 35 states for their commitment to saving energy and protecting the environment through superior energy efficiency achievements. Recipients of the 2016 Energy Star Partner of the Year Award for Sustained Excellence in North Carolina include Food Lion, HanesBrands, Pentair Aquatic Systems and Nationwide Marketing Group.
"This year's Partner of the Year Award winners prove every day that saving money and protecting the environment go hand in hand," said EPA 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 more than 2.4 billion metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions. In 2014 alone, Energy Star and its partners provided more than $11 billion in societal benefits due to reducing damages from climate change.
The awards will be presented in Washington, DC, at the Marriott Wardman Park Hotel on April 13th. Sally Bingham, Interfaith Power & Light president will give the keynote presentation.
How Energy Star Partners of the Year for Sustained Excellence in North Carolina are Taking Action:
(Salisbury, N.C.) Food Lion continues to be a leader in identifying, developing, and investing in new technologies and operational best practices to save energy and money at its 1,102 stores. In 2015, Food Lion earned Energy Star certification for 58 additional buildings, bringing the total to 1,003. Food Lion installed medium-temperature door retrofits on refrigerators in 38 stores, saving 14.57 billion British thermal units (kBtu) annually.Together with its sister banner Hannaford, Food Lion achieved a 12.7-percent reduction of its carbon footprint-on track to meet its commitment for a 20 percent reduction by 2020 over a 2008 baseline. Food Lion quadrupled its number of Change the World: Start with Energy Star pledges, earning second place out of 777 companies nationally and representing 117,649,222 pounds of greenhouse gas emissions reduced. Lastly, Food Lion continued an aggressive program to retrofit lighting at 70 stores with light-emitting diodes (LEDs).
(Winston-Salem, N.C.) HanesBrands, a leading marketer of apparel including brands like Hanes, Champion, and Playtex, continues to be a leader in sustainability. In 2015, the company reduced its energy intensity by three percent compared to 2014. Since 2007, HanesBrands has reduced its energy intensity by 25 percent, contributing to a 23 percent reduction in carbon emission intensity. Over this same period, the company reduced water use intensity by 32 percent. HanesBrands established an aggressive new "2020 Vision" to reduce energy and carbon emissions by 40 percent and water use by 50 percent from a 2007 baseline year. HanesBrands participates in a program to responsibly produce cotton, including decreasing greenhouse gas emissions associated with its growth. HanesBrands achieved the Energy Star Challenge for Industry at five plants in 2015, bring the company's total to 23. The company has pioneered the use of biomass combined heat and power plants to replace fossil fuel use at plants in developing countries. Lastly, HanesBrands implemented a multimedia communications strategy to inform people through 440 million media impressions about energy management and Energy Star.
(Sanford, N.C.) Pentair Aquatic Systems continues to advance energy efficiency in pool pumps and is a market leader in educating its customers about saving energy and money with Energy Star. In 2015, the company offered 63 Energy Star certified pool pump models, accounting for 46 percent of the 137 certified pumps last year.
Pentair Aquatic Systems deployed more than 1,000 hands-on pool pump demonstration devices at retail outlets and consumer home shows that help educate consumers on the benefits of Energy Star certified pool pumps. Working with EPA, the company improved its training initiatives for employees, dealers and distributors, including incorporating Energy Star educational information and messaging into training sessions that were attended by 2,580 industry professionals at 58 locations in 2015. Lastly, Pentair Aquatic Systems played an instrumental role in the development of the Energy Star pool pump connected specification.
(Winston-Salem, N.C.) Nationwide Marketing Group, America's largest buying and marketing organization, has a long history helping its 3,800 members educate consumers on the benefits of Energy Star products across their 11,000 storefronts. The company has distinguished itself by developing a high-quality, comprehensive, and effective set of Energy Star marketing and advertising materials for its independent retail store members. In 2015, the company engaged with vendor and utility partners to increase stocking and sales of newly available Energy Star products, such as clothes dryers, and priority promotional categories including refrigerators. Nationwide Marketing Group developed new digital commercials that feature Energy Star certified products and messaging. Commercials are delivered throughout the year to thousands of in-store kiosks and other media vehicles, such as online media and targeted cable spots, generating 100 million impressions. The company developed numerous regional print advertisements for its members, resulting in millions of impressions in local markets. Lastly, Nationwide Marketing Group features the energy and environmental benefits of Energy Star products in purchasing guidance to consumers.
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 program 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: Six 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 U.S. Department of Energy with support from EPA.
Climate Communicator: The six 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: Three 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 more than 20 years, people across America have looked to EPA's Energy Star program 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 recognized 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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