Branford Community House Honored for 'Green' Efforts

The following is a press release from the DEEP.

The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection presented “Summer Saver” Awards to eleven organizations, including retailers, schools and manufacturers for their leadership and commitment to reducing energy usage and air pollution during the critical summer months of 2012.

The Branford Community House earned a Silver Award.
            
“The organizations we honor today have taken voluntary steps to reduce their energy use and by doing so have become models for others to follow,” said DEEP Commissioner Daniel C. Esty. “The combined efforts of the eleven Summer Savers Awardees resulted in energy savings in kilowatt hours, peak electricity demand and in CO2 emissions. Efficiency efforts are of special significance in summer months when reducing peak demand can help reduce the cost of power and when reducing emissions from power plants helps prevent pollution that contributes to smog.”           

The combined efforts of these awardees resulted in energy savings of over 363,503 kilowatt hours (or 364 megawatt hours) of electricity, lowering peak electricity demand by 2,032kilowatts (or over 2 megawatts) and CO2 emissions by 171 tons. 

To achieve their savings, the awardees utilized various incentives offered by the Connecticut Energy Efficiency Fund Small Business and Commercial and Industrial programs available through The Connecticut Light & Power Company and the United Illuminating Company.           

In a ceremony today at the State Capitol, the following awards were presented: 

Peak Performer Award for the highest achievement during Summer 2012 in reducing electricity demand as part of ISO-New England’s Load Response program without the use of back-up diesel generation was earned by Walgreen Company for its Connecticut Distribution Center, Windsor, for a reduction of over 1,770  kilowatts or 40%.

Gold Awards for a greater than 20 percent reduction in electricity consumption as well as demand:

• WANHO Manufacturing, LLC, Waterbury, for reductions of 36,384 kilowatt hours or 40%, and 25 kilowatts in demand or 36%
  
• Saint Mary Parish, Newington, for reductions of 21,128 kilowatt hours or 44%, and 54 kilowatts in demand or 43% 

Silver Awards for a 10% to 20% reduction in electricity consumption as well as demand:

• Amity Regional School District No. 5, Orange
  
• Branford Community House, Branford
  
• Guitar Center Stores, Inc., Orange
  
• Rimagé Salon and Spa, New Haven
• Superior Printing Ink Co., Inc., Hamden; also received the 2012 Environmental Award for a 68 ton reduction in CO2, the greatest of all the Summer Savers Awardees 

Bronze Awards for a 5% to 10% reduction in electricity consumption as well as demand:

• Hologic, Inc., Danbury
  
• New Castle Hotels & Resorts (Hilton Garden Inn), Shelton
  
• WOW! Workout World, West Hartford             

The Summer Energy Savers Awards program was instituted to encourage and reward Connecticut businesses and institutions who reduced their electricity consumption during the summer months by 5% to 20% over the previous two summers.  Increased summer energy demand, driven almost exclusively by usage of air conditioners, plays a substantial role in increased consumer costs for electricity.  The Summer Saver Awards acknowledge the efforts of the awardees that reduced their use on peak energy days in summer when it is so critical to the state’s energy infrastructure.           

Owners/operators of facilities that increase their energy efficiency or initiate conservation measures this summer are invited to apply for the 2013 Southwest Connecticut Summer Saver Awards.  To obtain an application and to learn more about the program, please visit http://www.summersaver.state.ct.us or contact Ginger Teubner at (860) 827-2630.