Each year, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy honor organizations that have made outstanding contributions to protecting the environment through superior energy efficiency. Oregon’s Gresham-Barlow School District along with two Energy Trust trade ally contractors—GreenSavers and Four Walls, Inc.—were among the 2016 winners.
Gresham-Barlow School District received the ENERGY STAR® Partner of the Year award – Sustained Excellence recognition due to its ongoing commitment to energy efficiency. In 2015 alone, the school district recertified 18 school buildings that were eligible for ENERGY STAR certification and saved more than $1.4 million in energy costs. They also implemented operations and maintenance improvements to ensure all facilities are shut down properly during long weekends and breaks and are involving maintenance staff, teachers, principals, students, parents, and the community in energy management efforts. Energy Trust has supported Gresham-Barlow school district’s energy efficiency efforts over the past 10 years by providing more than $40,000 in cash incentives for upgrades to cafeteria equipment, boilers and lighting.
Out of 2,100 ENERGY STAR contractors across the country, Bend-based GreenSavers is one of only six to win the Home Performance with ENERGY STAR – Contractor of the Year award. Since joining Energy Trust’s trade ally network in 2011, GreenSavers has completed more than 1,500 home energy upgrades helping Oregon homeowners save energy and money.
Portland-based Four Walls, Inc., was named Partner of the Year – Home Energy Rater. In 2015, Four Walls verified energy savings in more than 200 homes for a total of 1,000 homes verified since partnering with ENERGY STAR in 2007.
According to the EPA, the 2016 ENERGY STAR award winners lead their industries in the production and sale of energy-efficient products and services, and in the development and adoption of world-class strategies that provide substantial energy and money savings in the buildings where we live and work. The winners have been chosen from a vast network of 16,000 ENERGY STAR partners.