The Northeast Retails Products Initiative earns its 13TH award for protecting the environment through energy efficiency
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has awarded Northeast Retail Products Initiative a 2012 ENERGY STAR Sustained Excellence Award in recognition of its continued leadership in protecting our environment through energy efficiency. The Initiative, facilitated by Northeast Energy Efficiency Partnerships (NEEP) and made up of utilities and energy efficiency program administrators in New England and New York, will be recognized at an awards ceremony in Washington, D.C. on March 15, 2012, which marks the 20th anniversary of ENERGY STAR.
An ENERGY STAR Partner since 2000, the Northeast Retail Products Initiative will be honored for its long-term commitment to energy efficiency. During the last twelve years, the Initiative has won 13 awards including six Excellence Awards, one award for Excellence in Product Labeling, and six Sustained Excellence Awards- the most prestigious.
For over a decade the Initiative has been collaborating to build greater market awareness and availability of energy efficient lighting and appliance products throughout the region. By leveraging their collective resources, utilities and other efficiency program administrators, which together serve over fifteen million households, are able to yield more energy and cost savings than through individual state or service territory program efforts. Participants of the Northeast Retail Products Initiative honored by the Energy Star Award include:
- Cape Light Compact
- National Grid
- NSTAR Electric
- Western Massachusetts Electric Company
- Unitil
- Public Service of New Hampshire
- Connecticut Energy Efficiency Fund
- New Hampshire Electric Coop
- Efficiency Vermont
- Connecticut Light & Power
- The United Illuminating Company
- Long Island Power Authority (LIPA)
- New York State Energy Research Development Authority (NYSERDA)
"NEEP is committed to accelerating energy efficiency through partnerships with utilities such as the Northeast Retail Products Initiative," said Sue Coakley, Executive Director of NEEP. "We are very proud of our partners for their tremendous efforts in making the Northeast a sustained leader in energy efficiency. Our success for the region is a direct result of the commitment these utilities dedicate to accelerating energy efficiency for our environment, our economy, and our communities."
Over the past 20 years, American families and businesses have saved nearly $230 billion on utility bills and prevented greenhouse gas emissions equal to those from more than 350 million vehicles with help from ENERGY STAR.
The 2012 Sustained Excellence Awards are given to a select group of organizations that have exhibited outstanding leadership year after year. These winners have reduced greenhouse gas emissions by setting and achieving aggressive goals, employing innovative approaches, and showing others what can be achieved through energy efficiency. These awards recognize ongoing leadership across the ENERGY STAR program including energy-efficient products, services, new homes and buildings in the commercial, industrial and public sectors. Award winners are selected from about 20,000 organizations that participate in the ENERGY STAR program.
"As we celebrate the 20th anniversary of the ENERGY STAR program, EPA is proud to recognize the Northeast Retail Products Initiative with the 2012 ENERGY STAR Sustained Excellence Award," said EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson. "The Initiative and all our ENERGY STAR award winners are helping Americans find cost-effective ways to save energy in everything we do, which is good for our climate, our health, and our future."
ABOUT NEEP
NEEP is a non-profit organization that transforms the way we use and think about energy. Through advocacy, collaboration and education we focus on three areas where we believe energy efficiency can have the greatest impact: buildings, high efficiency products & best practices. Our unique approach helps bring together all stakeholders to accelerate energy efficiency and highlight its impacts on the region, the economy, and the planet. For more information, visit www.neep.org.
ABOUT ENERGY STAR
ENERGY STAR was introduced by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in 1992 as a voluntary market-based partnership to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through increased energy efficiency. Now celebrating its 20th anniversary, ENERGY STAR offers businesses and consumers energy-efficient solutions to save energy, money and help protect the environment for future generations. About 20,000 organizations are ENERGY STAR partners committed to improving the energy efficiency of products, homes, buildings and businesses. For more information about ENERGY STAR, visit www.energystar.gov or call toll-free 1-888-STAR-YES (1-888-782-7937).