All News Releases By Date

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

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 North Carolina 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.

Award for Excellence
Nationwide Marketing Group of Winston Salem, North Carolina is America's largest buying and marketing organization with over 3,000 members operating approximately 10,000 storefronts and $12 billion in combined annual sales. In 2011, NMG stood out for its remarkable efforts to increase the market share of ENERGY STAR qualified products in most major appliance and electronics categories.

North Carolina Energy Efficiency Alliance of Boone, North Carolina (NCEEA) is a state-funded, nonprofit organization that aims to overcome market barriers to the widespread implementation of energy-efficient new homes by working with housing industry professionals. The NCEEA is receiving ENERGY STAR recognition for its demonstrated commitment to raising awareness of the value and benefits of ENERGY STAR features in the home, and increasing the demand for ENERGY STAR Homes in North Carolina.

Award for Sustained Excellence
Food Lion Family, Bloom, and Bottom Dollar Food of Salisbury, North Carolina is the largest operating entity of Belgium-based Delhaize Group, operating more than 1,300 grocery stores in 11 southeast and mid-Atlantic states and employing more than 74,000 associates. Food Lion Family, Bloom, and Bottom Dollar Food is receiving Sustained Excellence recognition for its continued dedication to identifying, developing, and investing in new technologies and operational best practices to save energy and money.

Hanesbrands Inc. of Winston Salem, North Carolina is a leading manufacturer of apparel essentials found in nearly all households in America. The company seeks to be an environmental leader in the international apparel industry and has made strong energy management practices a cornerstone of this vision. Since becoming an ENERGY STAR partner, Hanesbrands has significantly expanded and improved its energy program with impressive speed. Hanesbrands is receiving ENERGY STAR Sustained Excellence recognition for its commitment to energy efficiency and the ENERGY STAR partnership.

Lowe's Home Improvement of Mooresville, North Carolina is a Fortune 50 company that serves approximately 15 million customers per week at more than 1,725 home improvement stores in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Lowe's stands out for its unsurpassed commitment to ENERGY STAR--since 2001, the company has continuously expanded its energy-efficient products, services, and education to increase consumer and employee awareness and savings.

Southern Energy Management of Morrisville, North Carolina provides energy efficiency, green building, and solar power services for homeowners, residential and commercial builders, nonprofits, and government clients nationwide. Southern Energy Management is receiving ENERGY STAR Sustained Excellence recognition for its continued commitment to finding and pursuing new market inroads to increase participation in its ENERGY STAR for New Homes 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/