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EPA Honors Alexandria, Va.-based Medical Association with First ENERGY STAR® Small Business Award - Energy Efficiency Saves Equivalent of Planting 26 Acres of Trees

Release Date: 10/1/1999
Contact Information: Donna Heron, 215-814-5113

Donna Heron, 215-814-5113

ALEXANDRIA, W. Va. - In winning EPA’s first ENERGY STAR® Small Business Award, the American Academy of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery Foundation has graphically demonstrated how energy efficiency cuts costs.

The foundation, which is the national professional association for about 12,500 ear, nose and throat doctors worldwide, was honored during a ceremony last week at EPA’s Philadelphia office for its success at making energy-saving improvements that protect the environment.

"The American Academy of Otolaryngology recognizes that they can make a contribution to the environment and make a good business decision as well," said W. Michael McCabe, regional director of EPA’s mid-Atlantic region.

Foundation Executive Vice President Dr. Michael Maves said the goal was to combine pollution prevention with cost reductions during the renovation of a three-story office building.

"We got involved with EPA’s ENERGY STAR® program because we wanted to reduce our energy consumption as we modernized our building," Maves said. "We’ve saved a lot of money and the whole organization has gotten behind this. It’s helped us feel we are being responsible citizens of the earth. It made good environmental sense and made good business sense. We are really delighted about this award. We very much appreciate the recognition."

The foundation upgraded all its office lighting, increased the efficiency of its roof and installed a system to automate the heating, ventilating, and air-conditioning systems, as well as lighting controls. The annual savings is $7,680 -- the pollution prevention equivalent of planting 26 acres of trees.

EPA’s ENERGY STAR® program has always recognized large corporations for their energy efficient activities. But until this year there was no specific recognition for small businesses which are defined as having 100,000 square footage or less.

"It’s important that we do all we can to encourage small businesses to take advantage of these programs," McCabe said. "As more businesspeople become aware of the effective and efficient way they can protect the environment, they will also become aware that it is good for their bottom line."

The EPA also honored three others with ENERGY STAR® Small Business Awards: GGS Information Services, York, Pa.; Penn-Craft Community Association, Fairbank, Pa.; and Weatherbury Farm, Avella, Pa.

EPA offers 21 voluntary partnership programs designed to prevent pollution and save money. Nationally, 7,427 businesses saved themselves a total of $3.3 billion; reduced waste by 7.8 million tons; prevented 80 million metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions; and saved $1.8 billion gallons of water -- the emissions reductions alone are the equivalent of taking 65 million cars off the road.