PSO earns ENERGY STAR Partner of the Year award

(Story by Tracy J. Harper)

TULSA — Public Service Company of Oklahoma (PSO) recently earned the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s ENERGY STAR Partner of the Year – Sustained Excellence Award for protecting the environment through superior energy efficiency. Representatives from PSO’s Consumer Programs group will receive the award March 26 at a ceremony in Washington, D.C.

The 2013 Partner of the Year – Sustained Excellence Awards are given to a select group of organizations that have exhibited outstanding leadership year after year, according to the EPA. These winners have reduced greenhouse gas emissions by setting and achieving aggressive goals, and employing innovative energy efficiency approaches.

“PSO is committed to increasing energy efficiency through the home and business energy efficiency programs that we offer. Our partnership with Energy STAR enables customers to learn more about energy conservation so they can make wise purchasing decisions,” said Eric Raines, manager – Consumer Programs for PSO. “We continue to receive positive customer comments regarding increased home comfort, improved business efficiency, and lower utility costs due to participation in these programs.”

PSO’s ENERGY STAR Programs include the Whole House Approach, formerly called Residential Solutions, and the ENERGY STAR New Homes program. In 2012, these programs netted a combined savings of 4,772,217 kilowatt-hours.

Through the Whole House Approach, which offers incentives to customers looking to improve the efficiency of their existing homes, over 547 homes were upgraded with a total of 2,640 energy efficient measures in 2012. The most popular measures installed were increased attic insulation, improved air sealing and compact-fluorescent light bulbs. 

“The average house built through our New Homes program last year was 35% more energy efficient than a home built to code only,” said Lisa Puyear, coordinator – Consumer Programs. “These homes are equipped with items such as slab insulation, radiant barriers, ENERGY STAR windows, high-efficiency HVAC systems, and sealed duct work. Not only do these items improve a home’s efficiency, changing the way things are installed also is important in how the house performs.”

Puyear notes that builders are using advanced installation techniques in framing, insulation, and HVAC duct work design to help improve overall energy efficiency.

PSO was selected from the nearly 20,000 organizations that participate in the ENERGY STAR program nationwide.