News & events : partner of the year

Press Release:

For Immediate Release
   Media Contacts:
   Rebecca Ehlers / Tim Wirtz
   Hoffman York
   414-225-9568 / 414-225-9522
   rehlers@hyc.com
   twirtz@hyc.com

ENERGY STAR® Names Wisconsin Energy Conservation Corporation Partner of the Year

MADISON, Wis. (March 20, 2001) - A Wisconsin energy efficiency organization is being honored by the US Environmental Protection Agency's ENERGY STAR program for educating consumers about energy conservation.

ENERGY STAR® named Wisconsin Energy Conservation Corporation (WECC) a Partner of the Year for its outstanding commitment to pollution prevention by educating consumers about energy conservation and the ENERGY STAR program. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator, Christie Todd Whitman, recognized WECC's achievement at a special ceremony in Washington, DC on March 20, 2001.

The National ENERGY STAR Award is given by the Environmental Protection Agency to recognize outstanding efforts in protecting the environment through energy efficiency. WECC, a partner in the ENERGY STAR program since 1998, is being honored for informing the public about energy efficiency through a comprehensive marketing and consumer education program designed to promote products and homes that carry the ENERGY STAR label.

"We are pleased to be a part of the ENERGY STAR program," said WECC Executive Director Janet Brandt. "By building homes and purchasing appliances and lighting products that carry the ENERGY STAR label, we save millions of dollars each year, and reduce the amount of pollution generated."

One high profile aspect of WECC's consumer education program is the award-winning Energy Squirrel™ ad campaign.

"Energy Squirrel has helped raise awareness of energy conservation by teaching consumers that wasting energy wastes money and the environment," Brandt said.

WECC is a non-profit energy-efficiency services firm based in Madison. Established in 1980, WECC is a national leader in the application of conservation and efficiency for utilities, consumer and environmental groups, and regulatory agencies. WECC's mission is to ensure that customers are provided with high quality, valuable, affordable and attractive opportunities to receive benefits from increased energy efficiency.

"High energy costs have demonstrated the importance of nationwide energy efficiency," said Kathleen Hogan, Director of the EPA's Climate Protection Partnership Division. "Organizations like WECC are making great strides in delivering services that contribute significantly to an overall reduction in energy use. We are pleased to recognize their efforts at the 2001 ENERGY STAR awards."

ENERGY STAR was introduced by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in 1992 as a voluntary market-based partnership to reduce air pollution through increased energy efficiency. ENERGY STAR now works with more than 7000 partners to improve the energy efficiency of products, homes, buildings and businesses. ENERGY STAR offers an easy way to identify the most energy efficient products and now has relationships with more than 1600 manufacturers. Together, ENERGY STAR and its partners offer more than 11,000 products in more than 30 categories that bear the ENERGY STAR Label. ENERGY STAR offers labels to identify the most energy efficient homes, buildings, office equipment, heating and cooling equipment, lighting, major appliances and home electronics.

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.

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