BATON ROUGE, La., May 06, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Three APTIM-administered energy efficiency programs have been honored by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy with the 2022 ENERGY STAR Partner of the Year Award. The award spotlights the programs’ industry-leading efforts in fighting the climate crisis and protecting public health. The awardees, selected from thousands of ENERGY STAR partners, include the Entergy Louisiana Entergy Solutions Program, Entergy New Orleans Energy Smart Program, and Wisconsin’s Focus on Energy Program.
“We are proud to be the program administrator for innovative programs that deliver utility bill savings and energy-efficient upgrades,” said APTIM Energy Solutions Vice President Brenda Hopewell. “These programs are aligned with our core mission to emphasize diverse partnerships and local economic growth, while improving quality of life for residents.”
The annual ENERGY STAR program recognizes a group of businesses and organizations that have made outstanding contributions to protecting the environment through superior energy achievements. ENERGY STAR award winners lead their industries in the production, sale, and adoption of energy-efficient products, homes, buildings, services, and strategies.
APTIM has administered the Entergy Louisiana Entergy Solutions Program since 2018. The program, which also received an ENERGY STAR award in 2021, reduces the up-front cost of a variety of energy efficiency upgrades for Entergy Louisiana customers and partners with participating trade allies and retailers, who help customers find new ways to save around their home or business. Since 2018, more than $17.1 million in incentives have been given to Entergy Louisiana customers.
“The Entergy Solutions Program provides valuable services to Entergy Louisiana customers through energy savings that translate to savings on customers’ bills and increases the comfort of their homes,” said Entergy Louisiana President and CEO Phillip May. “Our energy efficiency programs continue to exceed expectations and provide energy savings for our customers. It is an honor to have our APTIM and Franklin Energy teams recognized for the second year in a row for their hard work on behalf of Entergy Louisiana in providing savings to our customers.”
Entergy New Orleans received the ENERGY STAR Partner of the Year Award for its third straight year for the Energy Smart Program, administered by APTIM and implemented by residential program implementor Franklin Energy since 2017. The program offers comprehensive and innovative energy efficiency solutions to help Entergy New Orleans residential and business electric customers save energy and money by reducing the up-front cost of a variety of energy efficiency upgrades. The program works with participating partners, local trade allies, and retailers who help customers find new ways to save energy through installation or implementation of energy efficiency measures, with 30 percent of the commercial and industrial projects completed by disadvantaged business enterprises.
“At Entergy New Orleans, we know that by reducing monthly energy bills, energy efficiency can lessen the strain of paying for energy, especially for families with high energy usage,” said President and CEO of Entergy New Orleans Deanna Rodriguez. “We are committed to delivering innovative programs to help customers manage electricity usage and help them recognize the benefits that energy efficiency can provide, such as lower utility bills, increased system reliability, and the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.”
APTIM has administered Wisconsin’s statewide energy efficiency and renewable energy program, Focus on Energy, since 2010. Focus on Energy seeks to empower the people and businesses of Wisconsin to make smart energy decisions with enduring economic benefits and provides $4.32 in economic benefits for every $1 invested in the program, as evaluated by a third party in 2020.
“Focus on Energy provides great value for Wisconsin by growing the state’s economy, creating new jobs, and contributing to our carbon reduction goals,” said Public Service Commission of Wisconsin Chairperson Rebecca Cameron Valcq. “For the past 20 years, the program has made our state a national leader in renewable energy projects and has reduced customer utility bills statewide.”
“We know it’s going to take all of us working together to tackle the climate crisis, and the 2022 ENERGY STAR award-winning partners are demonstrating what it takes to build a more sustainable future,” said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. “These companies are showing once again that taking action in support of a clean energy economy can be good not only for the environment but also for business and customers.”
For a complete list of 2022 ENERGY STAR winners and more information about the awards program, visit energystar.gov/awardwinners.
###
About APTIM
APTIM is a global industry leader headquartered in Baton Rouge, La. With more than 4,000 employees worldwide, APTIM specializes in critical infrastructure, technical and data solutions, program management, environmental services, resilience, and sustainability and energy solutions. APTIM’s dedicated people have proven experience and expertise to provide integrated services and solutions to government agencies, commercial and industrial clients, and energy customers. APTIM commits to accelerating the transition toward a clean and efficient energy economy; building a sustainable future for our communities and natural world; and creating an inclusive, equitable environment that celebrates the diversity of our people.
About Entergy Louisiana
Entergy Louisiana, LLC provides electric service to more than 1 million customers in 58 parishes and natural gas service to more than 94,000 customers in Baton Rouge, La.
About Entergy New Orleans
Entergy New Orleans provides electricity to more than 209,000 customers and natural gas to more than 110,000 customers in Orleans Parish, La.
Entergy New Orleans and Entergy Louisiana are subsidiaries of Entergy Corporation, a Fortune 500 company headquartered in New Orleans. Entergy powers life for 3 million utility customers across Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas. Entergy is creating a cleaner, more resilient energy future for everyone with their diverse portfolio of low-carbon and carbon-free energy sources. With roots in the Gulf South region for more than a century, Entergy is a recognized leader in corporate citizenship and delivers more than $100 million in philanthropy and advocacy efforts to local communities each year. Their approximately 12,500 employees are dedicated to powering life today and for future generations.
About Focus on Energy
Focus on Energy empowers the people and businesses of Wisconsin to make smart energy decisions with enduring economic benefits. On behalf of 107 Wisconsin electric and natural gas utilities, Focus on Energy’s information, resources, and financial incentives benefit all Wisconsinites by implementing energy efficiency and renewable energy projects that otherwise wouldn’t happen or, in some cases, years sooner than scheduled.
About Franklin Energy
Franklin Energy delivers turn-key energy efficiency and grid optimization programs for more than 60 utility and government partners across the U.S. and Canada. Their integrated in-house services provide deep personalization and insights, helping their energy partners achieve their carbon-reduction and energy productivity goals. The company has served the utility industry for more than 26 years, with smart solutions implemented by over 1,100 energy professionals.
About ENERGY STAR
ENERGY STAR is the government-backed symbol for energy efficiency, providing simple, credible, and unbiased information that consumers and businesses rely on to make well-informed decisions. Thousands of industrial, commercial, utility, state, and local organizations – including more than 40 percent of the Fortune 500 – rely on their partnership with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to deliver cost-saving energy efficiency solutions. Since 1992, ENERGY STAR and its partners helped American families and businesses avoid more than $500 billion in energy costs and achieve more than 4 billion metric tons of greenhouse gas reductions. More background information about ENERGY STAR’s impacts can be found at energystar.gov/impacts, and state-level information can be found at energystar.gov/statefacts.
