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EPA Recognizes Vermont Non Profit as Energy Star Leader

Release Date: 03/27/2002
Contact Information: Mark Merchant, EPA Boston Press Office (617) 918-1013

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Vermont Energy Investment Corp. – a non-profit energy service organization with a mission to reduce the economic, social and environmental costs of home energy consumption with cost effective energy efficiency and renewable energy technology – was honored last night by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for its efforts to enhance energy efficiency and reduce global warming gases.

At a presentation in Washington, D.C., EPA Administrator Christie Whitman awarded VEIC an Energy Star Partner Award. It was one of 36 awards given out to companies and organizations nationwide, and one of four in New England.

VEIC was presented with an Energy Star Award for Excellence in New Homes. The corporation is a regional leader in efforts to promote more efficient housing with Energy Star. It has implemented Energy Star throughout it programs, services and consulting efforts and since 1997 has certified more than 700 homes with an Energy Star label under the Vermont Energy Star Homes Program. As a result, Vermont is a leader in the percentage of Energy Star in the state.

"Successful partnerships have always been integral to achieving our environmental protection goals," said EPA Administrator Christie Whitman. "We honor the 2002 Energy Star Partner Award winners who serve as models to other businesses and organizations, proving you can improve our environment while saving energy and money."

In 2001 alone, Americans, with the help of Energy Star saved $5 billion in energy costs and reduced pollution equivalent to taking 10 million cars off the road. More than 750 million Energy Star products have been sold, more than 55,000 new homes have earned the Energy Star label and more than 10,000 office buildings, schools, supermarkets and hotels have benchmarked their energy performance as a basis for future progress. All this has been accomplished without sacrificing product features, quality or personal comfort.

"The Energy Star program has already saved New England consumers and businesses $1.9 billion. One of our biggest priorities now is to expand this voluntary program," said Robert W. Varney, regional administrator of EPA's New England office. "To do this, partnerships between EPA and groups like VEIC are essential. VEIC's efforts have been outstanding. I want to thank them and I know they will continue their support of Energy Star in the future."

"We're proud to be a part of the Energy Star program," said Beth Sachs, executive director of VEIC. "An essential part of our mission is to help people build comfortable homes that cost less to live in. We're very pleased to get this award, but the real winner is the environment. Because anytime we reduce the amount of energy we need, we also avoid the pollution that power plants create."

Energy Star is a voluntary partnership started in 1992 between business, government and others united to protect our environment for future generations by changing to energy-efficient practices today. Businesses can use Energy Star to improve efficiency, enhance profits and create a competitive advantage. The program has more than 7,000 partners.

"For 10 years the Energy Star program has inspired energy efficiency in businesses and organizations throughout the country. We look forward to another 10 years of working with our partners towards increased environmental protection," said Whitman.

As part of his Energy Plan, President Bush called for an expansion of the Energy Star program. The EPA has been working to expand the program to include additional buildings and products such as grocery stores, health care facilities and ceiling fans. In addition, last fall the agency launched a public awareness campaign to educate more Americans about their choices in saving energy and money.

For more information about the Energy Star program, contact Cindy Jacobs at 202-564-1129 or go to http://www.energystar.gov or call 1-888-STAR-YES.

For more information about Energy Star products, please visit http://www.betterwaytosave.com

For more information about the Vermont Energy Investment Corp., visit http://www.together.net/~veic/