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EPA Celebrates 20th Anniversary of Energy Star by recognizing Six Organizations in Kentucky

Release Date: 03/19/2012
Contact Information: Dawn Harris-Young, (404) 562-8421, harris-young.dawn@epa.gov

ATLANTA – As a part of the celebration of Energy Star's 20^th anniversary, three organizations in Kentucky were honored by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) with the 2012 Energy Star award. This award was given because of their outstanding leadership and commitment to protecting America’s environment through superior energy efficiency.

Partner of the Year
Commonwealth of Kentucky and Kentucky Housing Corporation of Frankfort, Kentucky along with KPPC--Kentucky Pollution Prevention Center of Louisville, Kentucky are receiving ENERGY STAR recognition for their delivery of exceptional efficiency-related programming that is helping Kentucky residents, schools, businesses, agriculture, industries, and other sectors save energy. Kentucky Housing Corporation launched a statewide Home Performance with ENERGY STAR (HPwES) program. KPPC is a non-regulatory environmental technical assistance resource center helping businesses and organizations stay environmentally sustainable. ENERGY STAR is a key element of Governor Steve Beshear's comprehensive energy plan by creating efficient, sustainable energy solutions and strategies. Kentucky sets an example with ENERGY STAR through active public-private partnerships that help create jobs, improve the environment, and lessen our energy dependence.

Louisville Gas (LG&E) & Electric and Kentucky Utilities (KU) of Louisville, Kentucky are owned and operated by LG&E and KU Energy, a diversified energy services company. Together, these utilities provide gas and electric service to Louisville, Lexington, and surrounding counties in Kentucky and five counties in Virginia. LG&E and KU are receiving ENERGY STAR recognition for their continued technical, marketing, and educational support to promote the ENERGY STAR New Homes program.

Award for Sustained Excellence
GE Appliances and Lighting of Louisville, Kentucky is an $8 billion global business and industry leader in major appliances and lighting. Demonstrating a high level of commitment, GE was a leader in ENERGY STAR education, labeling, and promotion.

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc. of Erlanger, Kentucky is the manufacturing headquarters for 15 vehicle, engine, and parts plants across the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Sustainability is an important focus for Toyota at both internal and supplier operations. Toyota is receiving ENERGY STAR Sustained Excellence recognition for the promotion of energy management among its suppliers and continued support of the ENERGY STAR program.

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. Nationally, 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.

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/