Northwest Energy Efficiency Council earns award for protecting the environment through energy efficiency
3/3/2012 – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has named Northwest Energy Efficiency Council (NEEC) as a 2012 ENERGY STAR Award for Excellence in ENERGY STAR Promotion winner for its outstanding contributions to reducing greenhouse gas emissions by sponsoring significant consumer education efforts promoting energy-efficient products. NEEC’s accomplishments will be recognized at an awards ceremony in Washington, D.C. on March 15, 2012, which marks the 20th anniversary of ENERGY STAR.
NEEC, an ENERGY STAR partner since 2002, is being honored for their work providing energy efficiency training to commercial building technicians through its national Building Operator Certification (BOC®) program. Since 2005, the BOC program has integrated the ENERGY STAR portfolio manager benchmarking tool into its training curriculum to advance use of the tool among its 8,000 credentialed operators. In 2011, BOC-certified operators using Portfolio Manager in conjunction with operational best practices saved an estimated $45 million in energy costs for their companies.
The national BOC® program is administered through a network of licensed providers who train building technicians in BOC best practices in 30 states with diverse climate zones in the East, Midwest, Southeast, and Pacific Coast. These providers contributed to the achievements recognized with this award. They include Gwinnett Technical College, Midwest Energy Efficiency Alliance, New York State Energy Research & Development Authority, City University of New York, North Carolina Community College System, Northwest Energy Education Institute, Northwest Energy Efficiency Council, Sacramento Municipal Utility District, University of Hawaii, and Wisconsin Focus on Energy.
“NEEC’s partnership with ENERGY STAR and its BOC partners and sponsors is an important way for us to serve our customers, showing them how they can use energy-efficient ENERGY STAR products to save money and protect the environment,” said Stan Price, NEEC’s Executive Director. “We are committed to continuing this important partnership.”
The 2012 Excellence in ENERGY STAR Promotion Award is given to a variety of organizations in recognition of their efforts to improve energy efficiency and reduce pollution, resulting in significant cost savings. Award winners are selected from about 20,000 organizations that participate in the ENERGY STAR program.
“As we celebrate the 20th anniversary of the ENERGY STAR program, EPA is proud to recognize NEEC with the 2012 ENERGY STAR Award for Excellence in ENERGY STAR Promotion,” said EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson. “NEEC and all our ENERGY STAR award winners truly demonstrate how the leadership and commitment from EPA’s partners has made a difference in the lives of Americans since 1992, saving them billions of dollars in energy costs and improving the health of our families, the planet and our future.”
About NEEC and the national Building Operator Certification: The Northwest Energy Efficiency Council (NEEC) is a non-profit trade association of the energy efficiency industry. NEEC administers the national BOC® program through a network of licensed providers who train building technicians in BOC best practices in 30 states with diverse climate zones in the East, Midwest, Southeast, and Pacific Coast. These providers contributed to the achievements recognized with this award. They include Gwinnett Technical College, Midwest Energy Efficiency Alliance, New York State Energy Research & Development Authority, City University of New York, North Carolina Community College System, Northwest Energy Education Institute, Northwest Energy Efficiency Council, Sacramento Municipal Utility District, University of Hawaii, and Wisconsin Focus on Energy.
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. Now celebrating its 20th anniversary, ENERGY STAR offers businesses and consumers energy-efficient solutions to save energy, money and help protect the environment for future generations. About 20,000 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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CONTACTS
Cynthia Putnam, (206) 292-3977, cynthia@putnamprice.com
Courtney Upshall, (202) 343-9948, upshall.courtney@epa.gov
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