News & events : project merit award

Press Release:

For Immediate Release
   Media Contacts:
   Mark Treichel
   Hoffman York
   414-225-9554
   mtreichel@hyc.com

EPA Recognizes Focus on Energy with 2009 ENERGY STAR^® Sustained Excellence Award

Focus on Energy earns the award for protecting the environment through energy efficiency

MADISON, Wis. (March 30, 2009) - Residents and businesses throughout the state are reaping the benefits of having one of the most successful energy efficiency and renewable energy programs in the country right here in Wisconsin. On March 31, 2009 in Washington, D.C., Focus on Energy will receive its eighth consecutive award from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The ENERGY STAR Sustained Excellence Award is being presented to the program "in recognition of its continued leadership in protecting our environment through energy efficiency."

"We are excited to again be recognized by the EPA for our work in Wisconsin," said Kathy Kuntz, energy programs director for Focus on Energy. "Our work is not done though, and we will continue to promote the benefits of energy efficiency and renewable energy to residents and business owners as they face these very difficult economic times."

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.

Focus on Energy, in its eighth year as an ENERGY STAR partner, has continually met the EPA standards for award recipients and is being honored as such. In 2008 the program again worked with eligible Wisconsin residents and businesses to install cost effective energy efficiency and renewable energy projects. The results of the work are listed below:

ENERGY STAR Lighting - More than 1.2 million ENERGY STAR qualified compact fluorescent light bulbs will have been purchased through Focus' "Change a Light" promotion. That's the equivalent of preventing 862 thousand pounds of carbon dioxide from being released into the atmosphere.
Home Performance with ENERGY STAR - Nearly 3,000 homes were evaluated in 2008, with almost 1,000 whole-home efficiency projects completed. The savings is equivalent to eliminating 261 tons of coal from being burned.
Wisconsin ENERGY STAR Homes - 1,463 homes were certified in 2008 by the more than 320 state builders who partner with the program. Those new homes will prevent more than 1.8 million pounds of carbon dioxide from being released into the environment.
Commercial Businesses - In 2008, Focus on Energy continued working with Wisconsin businesses with an ENERGY STAR approach to energy management. Focus benchmarked 240 commercial buildings - primarily Roundy's and Aldi grocery stores - totaling 12.5 million square feet of commercial space using the ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager system. In addition, the program trained participants on the benchmarking process, which will result in at least 39 additional facilities being benchmarked.
Targeted Home Performance with ENERGY STAR - More than 360 limited-income homes were evaluated and a total of 8,053 ENERGY STAR qualified products/appliances were installed to help these Wisconsin residents make low cost energy efficiency improvements to their homes.

"The EPA is delighted to recognize Focus on Energy with the 2009 ENERGY STAR Sustained Excellence award," said Kathleen Hogan, Director of the Climate Protection Partnerships Division at the U.S. EPA. "Focus' leadership on energy efficiency has yielded impressive financial savings for Wisconsin residents and business and our global environment, showing us all what can be accomplished through sustained commitment and action."

About the Wisconsin Energy Conservation Corporation
Wisconsin Energy Conservation Corporation is a nonprofit organization based in Madison, Wis. Established in 1980, WECC is a national leader in designing and implementing energy efficiency and renewable energy programs that partner with private businesses to deliver value to consumers. It champions innovative energy initiatives that deliver short- and long-term economic and environmental benefits to consumers, businesses and policy makers. For more information about WECC, call 800.969.9322 or visit weccusa.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 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 energystar.gov or call toll-free 1-888-STAR-YES (1-888-782-7937).

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