News Releases from Region 07

Pella Corporation Named 2016 Energy Star Partner of the Year for Outstanding Achievements in Energy Efficiency, Des Moines Public Schools, Principal Real Estate Investors of Des Moines, and Metro Lighting of Brentwood, Mo., Also Energy Star Honorees

Environmental News

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

(Lenexa, Kan., March 29, 2016) - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has selected Pella Corporation of Pella, Iowa, a window and door manufacturing company, as one of eight businesses recognized as a 2016 Energy Star Partner of the Year for Outstanding Achievements in Energy Efficiency.

Pella Corporation continues to innovate by offering new Energy Star certified products that meet the newest program requirements, including options for Energy Star Most Efficient 2015, and partnering with Lawrence Berkeley National Labs to develop new automated shading technology. The company also earned the Energy Star Challenge for Industry recognition for three different manufacturing facilities that improved building energy efficiency in excess of 10 percent.

Other recipients of the Partner of the Year Awards for Outstanding Achievement include Beazer Homes, General Motors Company, Ivey Residential LLC, DirecTV, The Home Depot, Kenton County School District (Fort Wright, Ky.) and Verizon. Read more about each award winner's achievements.

EPA and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) are also honoring 149 businesses and organizations in 35 states for their commitment to saving energy and protecting the environment through superior energy efficiency achievements. Category winners in Region 7 include:

• Des Moines Public Schools, Des Moines, Iowa - Partner of the Year for Sustained Excellence in Energy Management and the Climate Communicator Award
• Principal Real Estate Investors, Des Moines, Iowa - Partner of the Year for Energy Management
• Metro Lighting, Brentwood, Mo. - Partner of the Year - Excellence (Retailer)

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, D.C., at the Marriott Wardman Park Hotel on April 13, 2016. Sally Bingham, Interfaith Power & Light president, will give the keynote presentation.
 

Partner of the Year for Sustained Excellence: Des Moines Public Schools is one of the 93 Sustained Excellence winners that 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: Principal Real Estate Investors, Des Moines, Iowa, is one of 47 organizations that 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 DOE with support from EPA.

Climate Communicator: The six Climate Communicator winners, all of whom are also Sustained Excellence awardees, including Des Moines Public Schools, 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, including Metro Lighting of Brentwood, Mo., 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 www.energystar.gov.