LANSDALE – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has recognized North Penn School District with a 2015 ENERGY STAR Partner of the Year – Sustained Excellence Award for their continued leadership in protecting our environment through superior energy efficiency achievements. North Penn’s accomplishments were recognized in Washington, D.C. on April 20, 2015.

NPSD was honored for its long-term commitment to energy efficiency. Some of NPSD’s recent accomplishments include:

• Achieving ENERGY STAR scores of 75 or higher for all 20 buildings, with 14 buildings exceeding an ENERGY STAR score of 90. Each building has also maintained a score of 75 or higher since the first year it earned ENERGY STAR certification.
• Educating the community on the benefits of energy management programs in annual reports, school-based calendars and media outlets.
• Entering all schools in the district into the ENERGY STAR National Building Competition, and continuing to improve even after the competition ended.
• Delivering more than 19 presentations outlining the importance of energy management in K-12 public schools and the benefit of using ENERGY STAR tools and resources to advance energy management programs.
• Reducing energy use by 37 percent compared to its 2010 baseline.

North Penn truly values our partnership with ENERGY STAR,” said Thomas Schneider, NPSD Director of Facilities and Operations. ”It’s exciting to see the impact we’ve made through our energy management program and we remain committed to continuing our work to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions and protect the environment.”

Since its inception in 1992, ENERGY STAR and its partners have helped prevent a total of more than two billion metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions. In 2013 alone, ENERGY STAR and its partners provided more than $11 billion in societal benefits due to reducing damages from climate change.

“Through their sustained participation with ENERGY STAR, NPSD is helping Americans save money, save energy, and do their parts to reduce our nation’s greenhouse gas emissions that fuel climate change,” said EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy. “I applaud North Penn for earning EPA’s highest ENERGY STAR award, the 2015 Partner of the Year – Sustained Excellence Award, demonstrating a strong commitment to energy efficiency and to preserving a healthy planet for future generations.”

The 2015 Partner of the Year – Sustained Excellence Awards are given to a variety of organizations to recognize their contributions to reducing greenhouse gas emissions through superior energy efficiency achievements. These winners have reduced greenhouse gas emissions by setting and achieving aggressive goals, and employing innovative energy efficiency approaches. These awards recognize ongoing leadership across the ENERGY STAR program, including energy-efficient products, services, new homes, and buildings in the commercial, industrial, and public sectors.

“Congratulations to staff and students who worked extremely hard on our energy management program, one that is focused on improving district-wide energy efficiency and educating students on the value of saving energy,” said Curtis R. Dietrich, Ed.D., NPSD Superintendent.

For a complete list of 2015 winners and information, and more information about ENERGY STAR’s awards program, visit www.energystar.gov/awardwinners.

About ENERGY STAR

ENERGY STAR^® is the simple choice for energy efficiency achievements. For more than 20 years, people across America have looked to EPA’s ENERGY STAR program for guidance on how to save energy, save money, and protect the environment. Behind each blue label is a product, building, or home that is independently certified to use less energy and cause fewer of the emissions that contribute to climate change. Today, ENERGY STAR is the most widely recognized symbol for energy efficiency in the world, helping families and businesses save $300 billion on utility bills, while reducing greenhouse gas emissions by two billion metric tons since 1992. Join the millions who are already making a difference at energystar.gov.