Businesses Turn Energy Savings Into a Profit for the Environment
AEN News
Washington - What do a snack food company, a car manufacturer,
a building supplier and a hotel chain have in common? They are
part of a select group of 67 businesses and organizations that
achieved major energy savings or helped others save money.
Wednesday, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the
U.S. Department of Energy conferred partner-of-the-year
awards on these organizations for their accomplishments
and leadership in the Energy Star program.
"From potato chips to post-it notes, our Energy Star award
winners are proving that saving energy dollars just makes
sense," said EPA Administrator Stephen L. Johnson. "President
Bush and EPA are improving the nation's energy and environmental
outlook – providing the next generation a brighter, healthier
future."
Last year alone, Americans with the help of Energy Star, saved enough
energy to power 28 million homes and reduced greenhouse gas
emissions equivalent to that of 23 million cars, all while
saving $12 billion on their energy bills. More than 500,000
new homes have earned the Energy Star distinction and more
than 26,000 office buildings, schools, supermarkets and hotels
have benchmarked their energy use.
Energy Star partners of the year, including Fortune 500 companies
and small businesses, set and reached annual goals to shrink
energy use. For example, a retailer reduced energy use by
25 percent in more than 1,200 of its stores and a property
management firm improved energy efficiency over 22 million
square feet, saving more than $2 million annually.
Energy Star was introduced by EPA in 1992 as a voluntary, market-based
partnership to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through energy
efficiency. Now in partnership with DOE, EPA works with more
than 8,000 organizations to improve the energy efficiency of
products, homes and businesses.
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