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EPA RECOGNIZES NEVADA ENERGY STAR PARTNERS WITH 2009 ENERGY STAR® SUSTAINED EXCELLENCE AWARD
Nevada Energy Star Partners earns seventh consecutive award for protecting the environment through energy efficiency
Las Vegas, NV, April 6, 2009 – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has awarded Nevada Energy Star Partners a 2009 ENERGY STAR Sustained Excellence Award in recognition of its continued leadership in protecting our environment through energy efficiency. Nevada Energy Star Partner’s accomplishments will be recognized at an awards ceremony in Washington, D.C. on March 31, 2009.
Nevada Energy Star Partners, an ENERGY STAR partner since 2001, will be honored for its long-term commitment to energy efficiency. This is the seventh consecutive Sustained Excellence Award for Nevada ENERGY STAR Partners.
Eight years ago, only about 15 percent of homes sold in Las Vegas were built to ENERGY STAR specifications. Today, thanks for the concerted efforts of Nevada ENERGY STAR partners, consumer awareness of ENERGY STAR in Southern Nevada is more than 90 percent and more than 67 percent of all new homes are built to meet or exceed ENERGY STAR standards.
“We’ve helped Nevada come a long way,” said Annette Bubak, president of Nevada ENERGY STAR Partners, who oversaw the 2008 Nevada ENERGY STAR campaign. According to Bubak, the number of ENERGY STAR homes in Southern Nevada has grown exponentially from fewer than 100 in 1998 to more than 76,600 in 2007. “The environmental benefits of these 76,600-plus homes is the equivalent of eliminating emissions from more than 37,00 vehicles, saving more than 227 million pounds of coal, planting more than 62,000 trees or saving more than 445 million pounds of carbon monoxide each year,” Bubak said.
In 2008, Nevada Energy Star Partners was one of only three markets in the country to launch a national pilot program for high rise residential condominiums. “The high rise condominium community was very receptive to our message and is engaging in this effort. It was one of our biggest successes this past year.”
According to Bubak, Nevada ENERGY STAR Partners continues to seek ways to broaden its message to encourage energy conservation. Nevada ENERGY STAR Partners is engaged in ongoing discussions with the U.S. Green Building Council, Southern Nevada Water Authority and the city of Las Vegas to form future alliances. Nevada ENERGY STAR Partners is also expanding its reach to include Northern Nevada.
“We have strong interest in the Reno area to duplicate our effort within the building and development communities there,” said Bubak. “Our aim is to position the entire state as an ENERGY STAR leader and to make energy conservation a state-wide effort.”
“With strong increased consumer interest in going green and doing the right thing for the environment, we’ve received tremendous interest from many groups in our community. We will continue to form alliances and partnerships throughout Southern Nevada to reach more people and generate increased interest in conservation.”
Now in its ninth year, Nevada ENERGY STAR is preparing to launch its 2009 campaign. In 2008, the focus of Nevada Energy Star’s three-month campaign, “Energy Star – Your Green Foundation,” was to promote Energy Star brand awareness and energy conservation as an important first step for individuals and corporations committed to “going green.” The partnership encourages member developers to incorporate ENERGY STAR standards into their building practices as the foundation for pro-environmental initiatives that also include water conservation, air quality and resource conservation.
Last year alone Americans with the help of ENERGY STAR, saved $19 billion on their energy bills and reduced greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to those of 29 million vehicles.
The 2009 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 12,000 organizations that participate in the ENERGY STAR program.
"EPA is delighted to recognize Nevada Energy Star Partners with the 2009 ENERGY STAR Sustained Excellence award,” said Kathleen Hogan, Director of the Climate Protection Partnerships Division at the U.S. EPA. “Nevada Energy Star Partner’s leadership on energy efficiency has yielded impressive results for their bottom line and our globalenvironment, showing us all what can be accomplished through sustained commitment and action.”
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 12,000 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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