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Three New England Groups Honored for Energy Efficiency Efforts

Release Date: 06/02/2006
Contact Information: Dave Deegan, (617) 918-1017

(Boston, Mass. – June 2, 2006) - Three local companies have recently been distinguished with “Energy Star Partner of the Year” citations by EPA and the national Energy Star program for their efforts in 2005. They are part of a select group of 67 businesses and organizations that achieved major energy savings or helped others save money. Energy Star partners of the year, including Fortune 500 companies and small businesses, set and reached annual goals to shrink energy use.

National Grid, located in Northborough, Mass., is an electricity and natural gas delivery service in New England and New York. National Grid earned recognition in 2005 for Excellence in Energy Star Outreach, for running an extensive marketing campaign around the Energy Star “Change a Light, Change the World” campaign. By giving light bulbs to every customer who took the online pledge, National Grid was responsible for nearly one-third of the total pledges nation-wide. Their campaign directly converted pledges into energy and cost savings for customers.

The Northeast Energy Star Lighting and Appliance Initiative, of Lexington, Mass., was recognized for their efforts since 1997 focusing on promoting energy efficiency in homes in the Northeastern U.S. Through regionally coordinated programs and policies that increase the use of Energy Star qualified lighting and appliances, this company has been able to save an estimated 8 billion kilowatt hours of electricity to date in the five-state region of Conn., R.I., Mass., Vermont, and Long Island, N.Y.

Finally, the Cathedral Square Corporation (CSC) of Burlington, Vermont was recognized for their commitment to providing affordable and energy-efficient housing to a growing population. CSC applies a special focus on housing for elders, low income persons, and persons with disabilities. Their commitment to energy-efficiency across their property portfolio of 25 buildings and 849 apartments has achieved outstanding results for its residents, the community, and the environment. Since 2002, 100 percent of CSC’s new construction housing (164 units) has received Energy Star certification, and more than 35 percent of CSC’s units are equipped with Energy Star appliances. Since 2000, CSC’s energy efforts have saved nearly 350,000 kilowatt hours of electricity annually.

“Energy Star award winners are proving that saving energy dollars makes good Yankee sense," said Robert W. Varney, regional administrator of EPA’s New England office. "Committed innovators are helping to improve our energy and environmental outlook - providing the next generation a brighter, healthier future."

Last year alone, Americans with the help of Energy Star, saved enough energy to power 28 million homes and reduced greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to that of 23 million cars, all while saving $12 billion on their energy bills. More than 500,000 new homes have earned the Energy Star distinction and more than 26,000 office buildings, schools, supermarkets and hotels have benchmarked their energy use.

Energy Star was introduced by EPA in 1992 as a voluntary, market-based partnership to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through energy efficiency. Now in partnership with U.S. Dept. of Energy, EPA works with more than 8,000 organizations to improve the energy efficiency of products, homes and businesses.

For more information on Energy Star Awards (www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=news.nr_news#2006)

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