LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The University of Louisville-based Kentucky Pollution Prevention Center has been chosen as a 2012 Energy Star award winner by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for the second consecutive year.
An award for Partner of the Year in Program Delivery was presented to KPPC representatives March 15 in a Washington, D.C., ceremony. The EPA introduced its Energy Star partnership program in 1992 to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and other pollutants associated with energy use. Other Kentucky recipients of the program delivery awards were the Commonwealth of Kentucky and the Kentucky Housing Corp.
“As we celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Energy Star Program, the EPA is proud to recognize KPPC as an Energy Star Partner of the Year,” EPA administrator Lisa Jackson said. “KPPC and all of our Energy Star award winners are helping Americans find cost-effective ways to save energy in everything we do, which is good for our climate, our health and our future.”
The center, a part of UofL’s J.B. Speed School of Engineering, provides free, confidential and nonregulatory technical information and assistance to help the state’s businesses, industries, school districts and other groups stay environmentally sustainable and competitive by cutting energy costs and preventing pollution. KPPC’s programs are designed to help the state reach its goal of reducing state energy consumption by 18 percent by 2025.
“We want Kentucky to be an example of how businesses, industries, schools and other organizations can realize year-over-year energy and cost savings through efficient and effective energy management and environmental sustainability programs,” KPPC Executive Director Cam Metcalf said. “That’s why we are committed to providing quality technical assistance, training and resources to our clients.”
KPPC’s recognition was for helping clients build self-sustaining energy management programs. The center uses Energy Star’s management guidelines for its series of tools, training and other resources for clients and encourages clients to become Energy Star partners, use its tools and participate in its initiatives.
For example, to date, 128 Kentucky school districts have become Energy Star partners through participation in KPPC’s Kentucky Energy Efficiency Program for Schools. Last year KPPC conducted 198 on-site energy efficiency assessments that identified ways to produce a projected annual cost savings of $6.5 million. Also, through the center’s Kentucky Save Energy Now initiative, 26 industrial and commercial facilities have committed to reduce energy use by 2.5 percent annually for 10 years.
For more information, contact Sandy Denham at 502-852-7361 or sandy.denham@louisville.edu or check www.kppc.org