New Britain, CT - The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently recognized Northeast Energy Efficiency Partnerships, Inc. (NEEP) and the Connecticut Energy Efficiency Fund, administered by Connecticut Light & Power and The United Illuminating Company, for programs that promote the use of ENERGY STAR® qualified products, services and practices.
“The Energy Efficiency Board is proud of the coordinated efforts of our high quality programs and NEEP. Encouraging residents to incorporate ENERGY STAR technologies into their everyday lives really makes a difference in the reduction of energy use,” notes Richard W. Steeves, Chairperson of the Energy Efficiency Board.
“This recognition is a testament to the efforts of the Energy Efficiency Fund and the synergy with NEEP,” noted Chris Ehlert, Manager, Residential Energy Services, The United Illuminating Company, “we certainly hope this partnership and the success will continue.”
“Our residential customers are looking to the Fund and to their utilities for ways to save energy and money. Educating them on the benefits of ENERGY STAR qualified products is an effective method that results in real savings for them and environmental benefits for the entire northeast,” stated Joseph Swift, Connecticut Light and Power.
Key regional accomplishments by these utility companies that were recognized include:
· Leveraging more than $8.8 million in direct consumer incentives to promote the sale of more than 174,000 appliances that have earned the ENERGY STAR,
· Working with more than 4,200 lighting and appliance retailers, including big box and membership warehouse chains, pharmacies, hardware stores, and grocery chains, to train their staff on the benefits of stocking and purchasing products that have earned the ENERGY STAR – an increase of more than 1,000 retailers since 2009,
· Helping nearly 750 retail locations offer CFL recycling at no cost to consumers,
· Conducting a comprehensive advertising and marketing campaign employing radio, television, Web, print, and in-store advertising,
· Saving more than 5 million MWh through its activities (lifetime savings from measures installed in 2010) and
· Leveraging more than $14 million in combined manufacturer and retailer discounts to promote the sale of nearly 9.5 million ENERGY STAR qualified CFLs and 111,000 ENERGY STAR qualified light fixtures.
Other NEEP partners joining the Energy Efficiency Fund in this recognition are: Cape Light Compact, National Grid (Massachusetts, Rhode Island), NSTAR Electric, Western Massachusetts Electric Company (WMECO), NHSaves (National Grid, Unitil, Public Service of New Hampshire, New Hampshire Electric Co-op), Efficiency Vermont, Efficiency Maine, Long Island Power Authority (LIPA), and New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA).
The Northeast Retail Products Initiative is a regional effort facilitated by NEEP, whose mission is to promote energy efficiency in homes and businesses in the Northeast through regionally coordinated programs that increase the use of ENERGY STAR qualified products, services, and practices.
To find out more about ENERGY STAR Retail Products or Lighting, a service offered through the Energy Efficiency Fund, visit www.CTEnergyInfo.com or call 1-877–WISE-USE (1-877-947-3873).
About the Connecticut Energy Efficiency Fund
The Energy Efficiency Fund promotes efficient energy use, helps residents and businesses save on their electric and natural gas bills, advances economic development, reduces electric demand, and helps reduce air pollution. Energy Efficiency Fund programs serve residential customers, including limited-and fixed-income customers, as well as business and municipal customers. Connecticut’s energy efficiency programs are funded by a charge on customers’ utility bills and administered by the state’s electric and gas utilities including: Connecticut Light and Power, United Illuminating, Yankee Gas, Connecticut Natural Gas, and Southern Connecticut Gas. Additional information on Connecticut’s energy efficiency programs can be found at www.ctenergyinfo.com or by calling 1.877.WISE.USE.
