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EPA Celebrates 20th Anniversary of Energy Star by recognizing three Organizations in Tennessee

Release Date: 03/19/2012
Contact Information: Dawn Harris-Young, (404) 562-8421, [email protected]

ATLANTA – As a part of the celebration of Energy Star's 20^th anniversary, three organizations in Tennessee were honored by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) with the 2012 Energy Star award. This award was given because of their outstanding leadership and commitment to protecting America’s environment through superior energy efficiency.

Partner of the Year
Eastman Chemical Company of Kingsport, Tennessee is a global company that manufactures and markets a broad portfolio of chemicals, fibers, and plastics. The company has historically focused on energy efficiency, but its commitment to continuous improvement has advanced to a new level with a restructured, corporate-wide energy program. Eastman Chemical is receiving ENERGY STAR recognition for its enhanced energy management program and commitment to continuous improvements in energy efficiency.

Award for Sustained Excellence
Nashville Area Habitat for Humanity of Nashville, Tennessee provides a life-changing opportunity for people to purchase quality, affordable homes and has promoted the use of ENERGY STAR qualified products and the construction of ENERGY STAR certified homes in its home building program since 2006. By partnering selectively with vendors offering ENERGY STAR qualified products and equipment, Habitat of Greater Nashville helps support ENERGY STAR while helping homeowners save on monthly utility bills. Habitat of Greater Nashville is receiving ENERGY STAR Sustained Excellence recognition for its continued leadership in protecting the environment through energy efficiency.

Nissan North America, Inc. of Smyrna, Tennessee is the manufacturing and operations headquarters for Nissan in the United States and Mexico. Energy management has become a key piece of Nissan's sustainability strategy, which seeks a "Symbiosis of People, Vehicles, and Nature." To build and strengthen its energy management practices, Nissan actively leverages ENERGY STAR tools and resources. Nissan is receiving ENERGY STAR Sustained Excellence recognition for the continued improvement of its energy management practices and performance.

Over the past 20 years, with help from Energy Star partners, American families and businesses have saved about $230 billion on utility bills and prevented more than 1.7 billion metric tons of carbon pollution. Nationally, the 109 Energy Star award winners were chosen from nearly 20,000 partners from across the nation. Organizations are recognized in one of four Energy Star award categories: corporate commitment, sustained excellence, partner of the year, and excellence in delivering specific promotions.

Launched in 1992 by EPA, Energy Star is a market-based partnership to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through energy efficiency. Last year alone, Americans, with the help of the Energy Star program and its partners, saved approximately $23 billion on their energy bills while preventing greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to the annual emissions of 41 million vehicles. To date, more than 1.3 million new homes and nearly 16,500 buildings across all 50 states have earned EPA's Energy Star certification. Today, the Energy Star label can be found on more than 60 different kinds of products with more than 5 billion sold over the past 20 years.

Complete list of 2012 award winners: www.energystar.gov/awards

More information on Energy Star 20^th Anniversary: www.energystar.gov/