LEXINGTON, Mass., Mar 2, 2005 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- For the sixth consecutive year, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Department of Energy (DOE) have recognized the Northeast ENERGY STAR(R) Appliance and Lighting Initiative with the Excellence in Energy Efficiency and Environmental Education Award for outstanding contributions to reducing greenhouse gas emissions by bringing ENERGY STAR to communities across the Northeast. The Initiative's sponsors will be recognized at an awards ceremony in Washington, D.C. on March 15, 2005.

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The Northeast ENERGY STAR Lighting and Appliance Initiative is a coalition of electric utilities and energy efficiency organizations that is coordinated through Northeast Energy Efficiency Partnerships (NEEP), based in Lexington, Mass. Participants are committed to increasing education about and the usage of energy efficient lighting and appliance technologies including clothes washers, refrigerators, dishwashers, room air conditioners, dehumidifiers, ceiling fans, compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) and interior and exterior light fixtures.

"The recognition of the sponsors of the Northeast ENERGY STAR Lighting and Appliance Initiative shows the value of partnerships in helping to increase the availability of and consumer demand for high efficiency products," noted Susan Coakley, executive director of Northeast Energy Efficiency Partnerships. "We're very proud to work with the utilities and energy efficiency program administrators in the Northeast, and with the ENERGY STAR program, to help create a cleaner, more affordable and more reliable energy system."

The Excellence in Energy Efficiency and Environmental Education Award is given to a variety of organizations to recognize their efforts to improve energy efficiency and reduce pollution, resulting in significant cost savings. Award winners are selected from over 3,000 organizations that participate in the ENERGY STAR program. Last year alone, Americans, with the help of ENERGY STAR, saved enough energy to power 20 million homes and reduce air pollution equivalent to that of 18 million cars - all while saving $8 billion.

"ENERGY STAR partners such as the Northeast ENERGY STAR Lighting and Appliance Initiative demonstrate how utilities and efficiency organizations can help consumers choose energy-efficient products that save them money and make a difference for the environment," said Kathleen Hogan, director of EPA's Climate Protection Partnerships Division. "The typical household spends about $1,500 on energy bills each year. With ENERGY STAR, consumers can save up to 30 percent, or $450 on their utility bills, while helping to protect our environment. We're glad to have the sponsoring organizations of Northeast Energy Efficiency Partnerships on board to bring this message to its community."

The Northeast ENERGY STAR Lighting and Appliance Initiative is facilitated by NEEP's Northeast ENERGY STAR Products Initiative. Participants in the Lighting and Appliance Initiative take part in joint and coordinated field implementation and program marketing efforts. Participants include the following electric utilities and energy efficiency service providers throughout the Northeast: The United Illuminating Company and Connecticut Light & Power in Connecticut; Narragansett Electric - a National Grid Company in Rhode Island; The Long Island Power Authority in New York; Efficiency Vermont in Vermont; and NSTAR Electric, Western Massachusetts Electric Company, Unitil, Cape Light Compact, and Massachusetts Electric and Nantucket Electric - National Grid companies in Massachusetts. For more information, visit www.myenergystar.com.

About ENERGY STAR

ENERGY STAR was introduced by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in 1992 as a voluntary market-based partnership to reduce air pollution through increased energy efficiency. Today, with assistance from the Department of Energy, the ENERGY STAR program offers businesses and consumers energy-efficient solutions to save energy, money and help protect the environment for future generations. More than 7,000 organizations have become ENERGY STAR partners and are committed to improving the energy efficiency of products, homes and businesses. For more information about ENERGY STAR, visit www.energystar.gov or call toll-free 1-888-STAR-YES (1-888-782-7937).

About NEEP

Northeast Energy Efficiency Partnerships, Inc. (NEEP) is a regional nonprofit organization founded in 1996 whose mission is to promote energy efficiency in homes, buildings and industry in the Northeast U.S. through regionally coordinated programs and policies that increase the use of energy efficient products, services and practices, and that help achieve a cleaner environment and a more reliable and affordable energy system. For more information, visit www.neep.org.

SOURCE: Northeast Energy Efficiency Partnerships, Inc.

EPA
Maria Vargas, 202-343-9451
vargas.maria@epa.gov
or
NEEP
Catherine Attardo, 781-860-9177, ext 42
cattardo@neep.org

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