Southern Energy Management earns national award for fourth year in a row for protecting the environment through energy efficiency.
MORRISVILLE, N.C. – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has named North Carolina-based Southern Energy Management (SEM) as a 2010 National Energy Star Partner of the Year for its outstanding contribution to reducing greenhouse gas emissions through its work as a Home Energy Rater. SEM also received the award in 2007, 2008 and 2009, and joins just three other companies in the U.S. that have received this award four times, achieving distinguished recognition for “sustained excellence.” Southern Energy Management’s accomplishments will be recognized at an awards ceremony in Washington, D.C. on March 18, 2010.
Southern Energy Management, an Energy Star partner since 2004, is being honored for its work in qualifying new homes to earn Energy Star certification. Home Energy Raters provide the evaluation, testing, and independent verification required for Energy Star qualified homes. There are just over 10,000 Energy Star qualified homes in North Carolina, and as the predominant Energy Star provider in North Carolina, SEM has verified almost half of those. SEM recently certified its 5,000th Energy Star home, and serves more than 300 builders across the state. SEM also offers green building and solar energy services for homeowners, builders, businesses, government and military in the Southeast.
“New homes meeting Energy Star standards are a win-win for homeowners and builders,” said Dan McFarland, director of builder services with Southern Energy Management. “Consumers today are looking for savings and added value in everything from new homes to their everyday purchases. Meanwhile, home builders we work with are looking for ways to meet the growing demand for sustainable home choices, and also to build homes that are better for people and the environment. Energy Star is an important piece of the puzzle that brings these two goals together, and receiving this award for the fourth year in a row certainly means a lot to our team at SEM.”
The 2010 Partner of the Year Awards are given to a variety of organizations to recognize their contribution to reducing greenhouse gas emissions by promoting energy-efficient homes in their community. Award winners are selected from more than 17,000 organizations that participate in the Energy Star program.
Since SEM began inspecting and verifying Energy Star new homes, the company has helped offset about 1.9 million pounds of carbon emissions through its Energy Star services alone, saving North Carolina homeowners a total of $2.2 million on utility bills.
Energy Star qualified new homes use substantially less energy for heating, cooling, and water heating – homeowners can expect to save about $200-$400 annually on their utility bills. Currently more than 8,500 builders across the nation are constructing homes that meet EPA’s strict guidelines for energy efficiency. More than one million American families now live in Energy Star qualified homes.
Last year alone Americans with the help of Energy Star saved $17 billion on their energy bills and reduced greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to those of 30 million vehicles.
“More homebuyers are choosing Energy Star qualified homes across America thanks to partners like Southern Energy Management,” said Gina McCarthy, EPA Assistant Administrator for Air and Radiation. “The knowledge and expertise of leading Home Energy Raters helps increase the nation’s energy efficiency and reduces greenhouse gas emissions.”
