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Two Boston-Area Organizations Recognized by EPA for Efforts to Increase Energy Efficiency

Release Date: 10/28/2005
Contact Information:

Contact: David Deegan (deegan.dave@epa.gov), EPA Office of Public Affairs, (617) 918-1017

For Immediate Release: October 28, 2005; Release # dd051004

(Boston) - Two Boston-area companies were among 18 organizations recently recognized by EPA nationally for achieving significant energy savings and leading their fields in responding to the agency's Energy Star Building Challenge. The two local companies are Cambridge Savings Bank, of Cambridge, and Saunders Hotel Group, of Boston.

"Whether you run a business, a school or a household, getting the most out of our energy dollars is good common sense," said Robert W. Varney, regional administrator of EPA’s New England office. "Energy conservation helps the environment while saving money. EPA is proud to recognize our neighbors who have accepted the Energy Star Commercial Building Challenge by saving on their energy bills and helping reduce the demand on our nation's energy supply -- all while protecting our shared environment for the next generation."

Cambridge Savings Bank, an Energy Star member since 2004, has improved the energy efficiency of its 13 bank branch and office buildings by approximately 20 percent. Bank management set goals for each building and then offers incentives for top-performing branches. Energy efficiency improvements included lighting upgrades and adopting other high-efficiency designs for new construction. They train every employee on how to conserve energy. In addition being recognized as an Energy Star Leader, Cambridge Savings Bank has earned an Energy Star label for seven of their individual facilities. The company has achieved annual energy cost savings of about $60,000 since implementing its energy program.

Saunders Hotel Group, the owner and operator of seven hotels throughout New England, has made a company-wide pledge to conserve energy and improve performance. The program includes regular benchmarking and tracking of energy usage, among other issues relating to environmental impacts by the company. In different hotels they have installed new energy-efficient heat pumps and lights, added lighting and heating controls and installed water-saving devices, thus reducing natural gas and water use. A member of Energy Star since 2004, the company also has earned an Energy Star label for two of their hotels.

The two Massachusetts companies were among school districts, a hospital and supermarket and commercial real estate companies honored by EPA Administrator Stephen L. Johnson on Oct. 26 for achieving at least 10 percent energy savings through their commitment to Energy Star principles. All of the honorees are employing EPA's national building energy performance rating system which helps building managers score the efficiency of their buildings on a scale of 1 to 100, setting goals for improved building efficiency, and documenting their improvements.

All of the recognized groups either achieved and documented a 10 percent or greater improvement across all the buildings within their organization, or have earned an exemplary average rating across all of their buildings. EPA's national building energy performance rating system has been available since 1999, and more than 20,000 buildings have been rated.

During Spring 2005, EPA announced the Energy Star Commercial Building Challenge, encouraging each building owner and manager to make their buildings more efficient. Commercial and institutional buildings use about $80 billion worth of energy each year and contribute about 20 percent of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions. EPA estimates that if each building owner met the challenge, the annual energy savings would be $10 billion.

Energy Star is a government-backed program helping businesses and individuals protect the environment through superior energy efficiency. More information on the achievements of Cambridge Savings Bank and Saunders Hotel Group, as well as the other 16 groups recognized as 2005 Energy Star Leaders, is available at: http://www.energystar.gov/news.

Related Information:
Energy Star
Energy Efficiency