EPA Recognizes Northeast Energy Efficiency Initiative with 2014 Energy Star® Sustained Excellence Award

Northeast Energy Efficiency Partnerships and its Sponsors earn 15TH consecutive award for protecting the environment through energy efficiency

Lexington, MA, April 3, 2014 – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has awarded Northeast Energy Efficiency Partnerships (NEEP) with a 2014 ENERGY STAR Partner of the Year - Sustained Excellence Award in recognition of its continued leadership in protecting our environment through energy efficiency. NEEP’s recognized project, The Northeast Retail Products Initiative,is made up of utilities and energy efficiency program administrators in New England, New York, and Washington D.C. NEEP and its project partners will be recognized at an awards ceremony in Washington, D.C. on April 29, 2014.

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 14 years, the Initiative has won 15 awards including six Excellence Awards, one award for Excellence in Product Labeling, and eight 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, consumer electronics, and appliance products throughout the region. By leveraging their collective resources, utilities and other efficiency program administrators – which together serve more than 15 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 Connecticut Light & Power
  • Connecticut Municipal Electric Energy Cooperative
  • The DC Sustainable Energy Utility (DCSEU)
  • Efficiency Vermont National Grid (Massachusetts, New York, Rhode Island)
  • NSTAR Electric NHSaves (Liberty Utilities, New Hampshire Electric Co-op, Public Service of New Hampshire, Unitil)
  • New York State Energy Research Development Authority (NYSERDA)
  • PSEG-Long Island
  • The United Illuminating Company
  • Western Massachusetts Electric Company


“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.”

Across the U.S., top companies and organizations are leading the way toward a more energy-efficient future through their participation in ENERGY STAR. Through 2013, with help from ENERGY STAR, the Northeast Retail Products Initiative will achieve over 5.9 million MWh in lifetime energy savings and prevent more than 4.6 million tons of Carbon Dioxide emissions. That is equivalent to the greenhouse gas emissions resulting from powering over 380,000 homes for a year.

“Northeast Energy Efficiency Partnerships has earned EPA’s highest ENERGY STAR award – the 2014 Partner of the Year – Sustained Excellence Award – because of its unwavering commitment to helping consumers become increasingly more energy efficient,” said EPA Deputy Administrator Bob Perciasepe.

The 2014 Partner of the Year - Sustained Excellence Awards are given to a variety of organizations to recognize their contributions to reducing greenhouse gas emissions through superior energy efficiency. These winners have reduced greenhouse gas emissions by setting and achieving aggressive goals, and employing innovative energy efficiency approaches. 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 the 16,000 organizations that participate in the ENERGY STAR program.

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