Press Release:
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For Immediate Release Media Contacts: Jennifer Dryburgh / Tim Wirtz Hoffman York 414-225-9568 / 414-225-9522 jdryburgh@hyc.com twirtz@hyc.com |
Focus on Energy Wins ENERGY STAR® Leadership in Energy Efficiency Award
Program earns award for protecting the environment through energy efficiency
MADISON, Wis. (February 18, 2004) - Focus on Energy, Wisconsin's energy efficiency and renewable energy initiative, will receive an ENERGY STAR Leadership in Energy Efficiency Award from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) at the ENERGY STAR Partner of the Year awards ceremony March 2 in Washington, D.C.
The program is being honored for its statewide success in reducing greenhouse gas emissions by promoting homes and home products that use less energy. The award recognizes the achievements of three of Focus on Energy's residential programs - the Wisconsin ENERGY STAR Homes program for new homes, the Home Performance with ENERGY STAR program for existing homes and the ENERGY STAR Products program, which promotes energy efficient lighting, appliances and other home products that carry the ENERGY STAR label. Following are highlights of the programs' achievements.
Wisconsin ENERGY STAR Homes
Nearly 2,600 Wisconsin ENERGY STAR Homes have been built and certified since the program's inception in 1999.
Together, these homes save enough electricity each year to light 250 Wisconsin homes. Each home also prevents
4,500 pounds of greenhouse gases from entering the atmosphere each year. More than 550 builders participate in
the Wisconsin ENERGY STAR Homes program, helping Wisconsin homebuilders build more comfortable, safe, durable
and energy efficient homes.
Home Performance with ENERGY STAR
More than 1,900 home evaluations have been completed since the Home Performance with ENERGY STAR program's
inception in 2001, resulting in 1,179 whole-house projects being completed. Together, these improvements have
saved residents more than $450,000 on their annual energy bills.
ENERGY STAR Products
Wisconsin residents snapped up ENERGY STAR qualified compact fluorescent light bulbs, clothes washers, room air
conditioners and dehumidifiers during special promotions held throughout 2003. Together, these products will cut
state residents' annual energy bills by $3.7 million and reduce their yearly electricity consumption by nearly 49.3
million kilowatt-hours - enough energy to light 4,925 Wisconsin homes for one year. From an environmental standpoint,
these products will prevent the emission of 59,105 tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere each year - equal to
the pollution generated by 7,955 cars.
Working Together to Save Money and Protect the Environment
"Focus on Energy's relationship with the ENERGY STAR program has been very beneficial for Wisconsin residents and
our environment," said Janet Brandt, program director with Focus on Energy's residential programs. "By working
together, we have educated residents about the benefits of energy efficiency and made it easy for them to choose
energy efficient options that lower their utility bills while reducing greenhouse gas emissions."
The Leadership in Energy Efficiency Award is given to a variety of organizations to recognize their efforts to
improve energy efficiency and reduce pollution, resulting in significant cost savings. These award winners are
selected from thousands of organizations that participate in the ENERGY STAR program.
"ENERGY STAR's partnership with Focus on Energy demonstrates how states are helping consumers save money and the
environment at the same time," said Kathleen Hogan, director of EPA's Climate Protection Partnerships Division.
"We are fortunate to have Focus on Energy on the ENERGY STAR team."
About Focus on Energy
Focus on Energy is a public-private partnership offering energy information and services to energy utility
customers throughout Wisconsin. The goals of this program are to encourage energy efficiency and use of renewable
energy, enhance the environment and ensure the future supply of energy for Wisconsin. Since the program began in
June 2001, the program has helped businesses and residents realize savings of more than 226 million kilowatt-hours
of electricity and more than 7 million therms of natural gas. For more information, call 800-762-7077 or visit
focusonenergy.com.
About ENERGY STAR
ENERGY STAR was introduced by the US Environmental Protection Agency in 1992 as a voluntary market-based partnership
to reduce air pollution through increased energy efficiency. The program offers businesses and consumers energy
efficient solutions to save energy, money and help protect the environment for future generations. More than 7,000
organizations have become ENERGY STAR partners and are committed to improving the energy efficiency of products,
homes and businesses. For more information, visit
energystar.gov or call 888-STAR-YES (888-782-7937).
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