The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) have named Georgia Power as a 2009 Excellence in Energy Star Promotion Award winner for its Lighting and Appliance program. This marks the third consecutive year that Georgia Power has been named an award winner in this category.
"Each year we strengthen our Energy Star program to increase its effectiveness with our customers, so the fact that Georgia Power was selected again for this highly coveted award is both humbling and extremely gratifying," said Lamont Houston, senior vice president of customer service and sales for Georgia Power. "And with the current economic conditions, now more than ever consumers are looking to us to provide ways to be energy efficient and save money. We're honored that EPA and DOE have chosen to recognize Georgia Power's achievement."
An Energy Star partner since 2004, Georgia Power has given away more than 330,000 compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) through its lighting program over the last three years. The company promotes the "Change the World, Start with Energy Star" campaign which encourages consumers to pledge to change at least one standard light bulb in their home to an Energy Star CFL. Georgia Power currently ranks second in the nation for the number of pledges collected.
Georgia Power's Lighting and Appliance program included a multi-media advertising campaign, in-store consumer and awareness events, retail sales associate training, numerous community and corporate outreach events, as well as a refrigerator recycling program. In addition, Georgia Power was selected to host one of only six national stops for the Energy Star Home Tour in October 2008, gaining national exposure for the southeast and escalating our customer outreach efforts.
Lamont Houston and Vicki Nichols will accept the award on behalf of the company at an awards ceremony March 31, 2009 in Washington, D.C.
The Excellence in Energy Star Promotion Award is given to a variety of organizations to recognize their efforts to improve energy efficiency and reduce pollution, resulting in significant cost savings. Award winners are selected from more than 12,000 organizations that participate in the Energy Star program.
Georgia Power encourages its customers to practice energy efficiency year-round. Take the "Change the World" pledge online at http://www.georgiapower.com/energystar/home.asp.
For additional energy saving tips visit our Web site at www.georgiapower.com/save. To learn more about Energy Star, visit www.energystar.gov.
Georgia Power is the largest subsidiary of Southern Company, one of the nation's largest generators of electricity. The company is an investor-owned, tax-paying utility with rates well below the national average. Georgia Power serves 2.3 million customers in all but four of Georgia's 159 counties.