Lexington, MA - March 9, 2010 - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has awarded Northeast Retail Products Initiative a 2010 ENERGY STAR Sustained Excellence Award in recognition of its continued leadership in protecting our environment through energy efficiency. The Initiative's accomplishments will be recognized at an awards ceremony in Washington, D.C. on March 18, 2010.
The Northeast Retail Products Initiative, an ENERGY STAR partner since 2001, will be honored for its long-term commitment to energy efficiency. For nearly a decade the Initiative, facilitated by Northeast Energy Efficiency Partnerships (NEEP), has leveraged members' collective resources to build greater market awareness and availability of energy efficient lighting and appliance products.The Initiative is sponsored, supported and executed by utilities and energy efficiency program administrators in New England, New York, and New Jersey, which together serve over fifteen million households. By leveraging these members' collective resources, utilities and other efficiency program administrators are able to yield more energy and cost savings than through individual state or service territory program efforts.
Through media campaigns including "Change the World, Start with ENERGY STAR", consumer sales incentives, community events, and product training for thousands of retailers, the Initiative was successful in getting over 11 million compact fluorescent lightbulbs (CFLs) and 67,000 ENERGY STAR appliances into the homes of consumers throughout the region.
Across the country Americans with the help of ENERGY STAR saved $17 billion on their energy bills and reduced greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to those of 30 million vehicles, last year alone.
"NEEP is committed to helping protect the environment and reduce energy bills through our facilitation of energy efficiency projects such as the Northeast Retail Products Initiative," says Sue Coakley, executive director of NEEP. "We are very proud of the Initiative Sponsors for their tremendous efforts to advance efficiency, environmental protection and the ENERGY STAR program. The success of the Initiative is a result of their dedicated collaboration and effective action and we congratulate them for making the Northeast a sustained leader in energy efficiency."
The 2010 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 more than 17,000 organizations that participate in the ENERGY STAR program.
"EPA is recognizing the Northeast Retail Products Initiative Sponsors and NEEP with our highest ENERGY STAR award - the 2010 Sustained Excellence Award," says Gina McCarthy, EPA Assistant Administrator for Air and Radiation. "Their continued leadership and commitment to energy efficiency is a testament to what we can accomplish to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and protect our global environment."
Sponsors of the Northeast Retail Products Initiative honored by the Energy Star Award include:
• Cape Light Compact
• National Grid
• NSTAR Electric
• Western Massachusetts Electric Company
• NHSaves (National Grid, Unitil, Public Service of New Hampshire, New Hampshire Electric Co-op)
• Efficiency Vermont
• Efficiency Maine
• Connecticut Light & Power
• The United Illuminating Company
• Long Island Power Authority (LIPA)
• New York State Energy Research Development Authority (NYSERDA)
• New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (New Jersey's Clean Energy ProgramTM)
ABOUT NEEP
Northeast Energy Efficiency Partnerships (NEEP) is a regional nonprofit organization founded in 1996 whose mission is to promote the efficient use of energy 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.
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. Today, ENERGY STAR offers businesses and consumers energy-efficient solutions to save energy, money and help protect the environment for future generations. More than 17,000 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).
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