Washington, DC - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) are honoring 149 businesses and organizations in 35 states for their commitment to saving energy and protecting the environment through superior energy efficiency achievements. Recipients of the 2016 Energy Star Partner of the Year Award include Beazer Homes, The Home Depot and Verizon.

“This year’s Partner of the Year Award winners prove every day that saving money and protecting the environment go hand in hand,” said EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy. “From major household brands to school districts, these leaders deserve to be congratulated for their commitment to reducing carbon pollution and protecting our climate.” 

“Energy Star Partner of the Year Award winners help families, individuals, and businesses become more energy efficient,” said Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz. “By offering energy-efficient products, services, and programs, this year’s awardees continue to provide Americans with lower utility bills, new jobs, and fewer greenhouse gas emissions.”

Since its inception in 1992, Energy Star and its partners, including the 149 Partners of the Year awardees, have helped prevent a total of more than 2.4 billion metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions. In 2014 alone, Energy Star and its partners provided more than $11 billion in societal benefits due to reducing damages from climate change. 

The awards will be presented in Washington, DC, at the Marriott Wardman Park Hotel on April 13th. Sally Bingham, Interfaith Power & Light president, will give the keynote presentation. 

How Energy Star Partners of the Year are Taking Action:

• (Atlanta, Ga.) Beazer Homes USA, Inc. built more than 4,700 Energy Star certified homes in 2015, while saving more than 10,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent emissions, compared to standard homes. The company also employs innovative techniques to demonstrate the value of their Energy Star homes. Their Houston Division launched a campaign called “Show Me the Bunny” to show that their well-insulated attics keep homes cool enough to keep a chocolate bunny from melting, even amidst the Texas heat!
• (Pella, Iowa) Pella Corporation continues to innovate by offering new Energy Star certified products that meet the newest program requirements, including options for Energy Star Most Efficient 2015, and partnering with Lawrence Berkeley National Labs to develop new automated shading technology. The company also earned Energy Star Challenge for Industry recognition for three different manufacturing facilities that improved building energy efficiency in excess of 10 percent.
• (Folsom, Calif.) Verizon certified 32 Verizon Wireless stores in 2015, for a total of 206 Energy Star certified buildings nationwide. Verizon also promotes energy efficiency awareness among customers and employees as a pledge driver for Change the World with Energy Star, and in 2015 pledges by Verizon employees and customers represented avoided greenhouse gas emissions of more than nine million pounds.
• (Detroit, Mich.) General Motors Company achieved a nearly six-percent reduction in energy use at its U.S. manufacturing facilities compared to 2014. GM has also implemented a climate protection strategy that drives energy management, low carbon energy procurement, and product design, all while communicating the need for climate management to the public. 
• (Evans, Ga.) Ivey Residential LLC built more than 140 Energy Star certified homes in 2015, saving homeowners more than $72,000 per year. The company also provides extensive training to all staff and homeowners about the value of Energy Star homes, and provides training to all trade allies and realtors about Energy Star requirements.
• (El Segundo, Calif.) DirecTV is showing young people how they can save energy and protect the climate through live, interactive demonstrations and by engaging 16,000 students in a virtual field trip featuring a one-on-one interview with EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy. The company also delivered more than 10 million Energy Star certified receivers in 2015, which have the highest level of efficiency among all pay-television boxes, saving customers 420 million kilowatt hours and $55 million each year.
• (Atlanta, Ga.) The Home Depot developed and implemented a new sales strategy that resulted in a significant increase in Energy Star product sales, and coordinated rebate offerings with local utilities for Energy Star products that resulted in approximately $310 million in incentives for customers. Home Depot also features Energy Star in high profile promotions throughout the year, including Earth Day and Energy Awareness Month, and promoted insulation during EPA’s “Rule Your Attic” campaign.
• (Ft. Wright, Ky.) The Kenton County School District saved more than $1.4 million in avoided energy costs through the use of Energy Star tools and resources in 2015. The district also expanded their student energy efficiency internship program; the student interns track and report on energy performance for the school district and serve as energy captains at local JCPenney stores.

Read more about each award winner’s achievements: www.energystar.gov/awardwinners

Partner of the Year – Sustained Excellence: The 93 Sustained Excellence winners continue to demonstrate remarkable leadership each year in the Energy Star program while remaining committed to environmental protection through superior energy efficiency. 

Partner of the Year: Forty-seven organizations have been awarded the Partner of the Year award for strategically and comprehensively managing their energy use. These organizations promote Energy Star products and practices in their own operations, while providing energy-efficient products and services to their customers.

Contractor of the Year: Six of the winners are winning at least in part for their superior efforts in promoting the Home Performance with Energy Star program, which is administered by the U.S. Department of Energy with support from EPA.

Climate Communicator: The six Climate Communicator winners, all of whom are also Sustained Excellence awardees, have raised their customers’ awareness of the impacts of climate change. Through their efforts, these partners illustrate how energy-efficient behaviors have a positive impact on the environment while encouraging customers to save energy and protect the climate.

Excellence: Three winners are receiving recognition for demonstrating outstanding promotion of energy-efficient products, homes, or buildings.

Energy Star has 16,000 partners working to protect the environment through greater energy efficiency, including manufacturers, retailers, public schools, hospitals, real estate companies and home builders.

Energy Star is the simple choice for energy efficiency. For more than 20 years, people across America have looked to EPA’s Energy Star program for guidance on how to save energy, save money, and protect the environment. Behind each blue label is a product, building, or home that is independently certified to use less energy and cause fewer of the emissions that contribute to climate change. Today, Energy Star is the most widely recognized symbol for energy efficiency in the world, helping families and businesses save $362 billion on utility bills, while reducing greenhouse gas emissions by more 2.4 billion metric tons since 1992. Join the millions who are already making a difference at energystar.gov.