WASHINGTON, March 2 /U.S. Newswire/ — The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) honor winners of the 2004 ENERGY STAR Partner of the Year awards tonight. The awards highlight the efforts of leading manufacturers, retailers, utility companies, and a variety of state and regional programs that promote energy efficiency and awareness of the ENERGY STAR label.
“Thanks to the thousands of private and public sector organizations who have worked together with us to establish the ENERGY STAR brand over the years, Americans have the ability to make smart energy choices, helping the nation achieve our goal of advancing new, cleaner energy technologies,” Secretary of Energy Spencer Abraham said.
ENERGY STAR is a national symbol for energy efficiency that promotes energy savings by labeling products that exceed federal specifications for energy use. Appliances, lighting, office equipment, home electronics, windows, and more can qualify by meeting ENERGY STAR guidelines. The ENERGY STAR label helps consumer identify the most energy-efficient products in the marketplace by looking for the label.
Some of this year’s winners include:
2004 ENERGY STAR(r) Partner of the Year — Product Manufacturers
General Electric Consumer Products (GE) was a leading manufacturer of ENERGY STAR qualifying products in 2003. GE invested in new qualified products, increasing the percentage of ENERGY STAR qualified appliances in its dishwasher, washer, dehumidifier, and room air-conditioner product lines, as well as increasing the sales of their qualified compact fluorescent light bulb lines to over 95 percent. In addition, GE participated in many promotional events sponsored by local and regional efficiency programs, launched the interactive Innovation tour to educate consumers, and participated in nationally coordinated ENERGY STAR campaigns. GE also became a charter member in the Weatherization refrigerator replacement program and established its own recycling program to properly dispose of old appliances.
2004 ENERGY STAR Appliance Partner of the Year
In 2003, Whirlpool Corporation, the world’s leading appliance manufacturer and marketer, once again manufactured the largest number of ENERGY STAR qualified appliances, with 352 base models in its inventory under the brand names of Whirlpool, Kenmore, and Kitchen Aid, among others. Whirlpool introduced 126 newly qualified models, including 98 refrigerators that meet the new 2004 ENERGY STAR specifications. The company actively promoted ENERGY STAR in print, radio, television, and direct mail advertising, and it coordinated communications efforts directly with its trade partners. Whirlpool also assisted low-income homeowners in achieving better energy efficiency through its work with Habitat for Humanity and many state Weatherization refrigerator replacement programs.
2004 ENERGY STAR Manufacturer Partner of the Year: Lighting
SYLVANIA is the North American division of OSRAM GmbH – the world’s second largest lamp and materials manufacturer — and part of the Siemens family of companies. SYLVANIA manufactures and markets a wide range of lighting and other products for consumers and corporate customers. An ENERGY STAR partner since 1999, SYLVANIA is recognized for its innovative and energy efficient line of screw base CFLs. SYLVANIA has invested in innovation by incorporating advanced coating and amalgam technologies to improve the brightness of CFLs. In 2003, SYLVANIA continued its impressive growth in qualified lighting products. ENERGY STAR qualified product sales increased by more than 30 percent compared to 2002 and by the end of 2003, 65 percent of the SYLVANIA compact fluorescent product line is ENERGY STAR qualified. SYLVANIA increased its advertising efforts and participated with numerous utilities and state programs across the country in promotions for ENERGY STAR qualified lighting products. SYLVANIA was a key player in both Earth Day events and Change a Light, Change the World through two targeted major newspaper advertising campaigns and participated in many CFL events.
2004 ENERGY STAR Window Partner of the Year
Gorell Enterprises, Inc. has been a dedicated manufacturer of ENERGY STAR qualified vinyl windows and doors since 1999, and the company has made ENERGY STAR the centerpiece of its marketing strategy. In an industry with overall ENERGY STAR market share of 35 percent, fully 82 percent of Gorell’s window sales in 2003 were ENERGY STAR qualified units. Gorell strives to promote ENERGY STAR in every way possible, in particular by providing its dealers and distributors with an extensive array of marketing materials, along with innovative and creative techniques for promoting ENERGY STAR and educating consumers.
2004 National Product Campaign Award
Maytag Corporation: Appliance Campaign
From April to July 2003, Maytag Corporation was one of the leading participants in the DOE-sponsored National ENERGY STAR Appliance Promotion. Maytag made it possible for consumers to save $100 or more on qualified clothes washers during the “Double Your Savings” Campaign. In addition, Maytag initiated its own national “Star Performer” promotion on all ENERGY STAR qualified Maytag Neptune washers. The company heavily promoted this offer and Maytag’s efforts are expected to result in annual energy savings of nearly 8.9 million kWh, enough energy to light every house in Washington, DC for 11 days. In addition, Maytag began an educational effort to teach elementary school children about the relationship between energy efficiency and the environment. In 2003, Maytag increased its number of ENERGY STAR qualified residential washer models by 250 percent. And its shipments of qualified commercial clothes washer models increased dramatically in this under-served market.
2004 ENERGY STAR(r) Award for Excellence in Appliance Retailing
Sears, Roebuck and Co.
Sears has been the leader in ENERGY STAR qualified appliance retailing since joining ENERGY STAR in 1998. In 2003, Sears continued its success by increasing sales of ENERGY STAR qualified appliances by 30 percent compared to 2002-these now account for 40 percent of Sears’ appliance unit sales and 60 percent of its appliance dollar volume. In addition, Sears supplemented its appliance retailing through training, advertising, public relations, direct mail, and more-including signage for in-store ENERGY STAR qualified appliances and an advertorial that reached more than 28 million readers. Further, Sears’ commitment to identifying qualifying product in its circulars resulted in more than 30 billion exposures of the ENERGY STAR logo. In 2003, Sears sold more than 4 million ENERGY STAR qualified products, resulting in $44 million in annual energy savings for consumers.
A complete listing of all 2004 ENERGY STAR Awards winners is posted at http://www.energystar.gov.
ENERGY STAR was created in 1992 by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to promote energy-efficient computers. DOE formed a partnership with EPA in 1996 to expand the scope of the ENERGY STAR labeling program to include highly efficient appliances, residential windows, doors and skylights, compact flourescent bulbs and fixtures, consumer electronics, heating and air conditioning systems, homes, and more.
ENERGY STAR qualified products are sold in thousands of national and local retail stores including Lowe’s, Sears, Home Depot, and Best Buy. For more information on ENERGY STAR, visit the Web site, www.energystar.gov.
DOE researches, develops, and deploys clean, efficient, and renewable energy technologies to help meet America’s energy needs while protecting the environment and strengthening the economy. Energy technologies support and promoted by the Department will play a key role in providing clean energy for the 21st century.