Lowe’s Wins EPA’S Top Honors for Environmental Leadership
Lowe’s is first retailer to receive 4 consecutive WaterSense,
SmartWay awards
MOORESVILLE, N.C.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has awarded Lowe’s
Companies, Inc. (NYSE: LOW) the highest honors for industry leadership
in its WaterSense® and SmartWay® programs. Today,
Lowe’s received the 2012 SmartWay Excellence Award for its environmental
performance in the freight transportation industry. Last week, the EPA
named Lowe’s the 2012 WaterSense Retailer Partner of the Year for its
efforts to educate consumers about water-efficient
products and practices.
Ellen Gilinsky (left) of the Environmental Protection Agency presents Mary Henderson, Lowe's manager of environmental marketing, with the 2012 WaterSense(R) Retailer Partner of the Year award. (Photo: Business Wire)
Added to the 2012
ENERGY STAR® Sustained Excellence Award that Lowe’s
received in March, the EPA honors represent unprecedented recognition
for a retailer. Lowe’s is the first retailer to win a WaterSense award
in four consecutive years and the only retail shipper partner to win
four consecutive SmartWay Excellence Awards.
“These honors reflect the dedicated efforts of Lowe’s employees across
the company as we continue to reduce our environmental impact while
championing energy and water efficiency,” said Michael Chenard, Lowe’s
director of corporate sustainability. “The recognition reinforces our
long-standing partnership with the EPA to promote sustainable practices
and programs.”
Lowe’s, a WaterSense partner since 2008, continues to expand efforts in
stores, online and throughout local communities to increase awareness of
the WaterSense brand and help consumers improve the overall efficiency
of their homes. The EPA honored Lowe’s and four other partners of the
year Thursday in Las Vegas. Lowe’s received recognition for employee
training and national efforts that included supporting the Wasting
Water Is Weird campaign to promote water conservation.
The EPA estimates that the number of WaterSense-labeled
toilets and bathroom faucets Lowe’s sold in 2011 can save customers
nearly $34 million each year on water bills and about four billion
gallons of water annually – equivalent to two hours’ worth of flow over
Niagara Falls.
Lowe’s conservation strategies and continued contributions to the
transportation industry also were honored in Las Vegas. To earn the 2012
SmartWay Excellence Award, Lowe’s implemented initiatives that resulted
in reduced emissions and less overall highway congestion. Nearly 3,000
partners participate in the SmartWay Transport Partnership. Lowe’s is
one of only two companies, and the only retailer, ever to receive four
consecutive awards.
“I commend Lowe’s for its leadership in moving goods efficiently and
reducing the environmental impact of freight through the second
generation SmartWay Transport Partnership,” said Chris Grundler, acting
director of EPA’s Office of Transportation and Air Quality. “Their
commitment is helping lead the freight industry to a more sustainable
future.”
Since becoming a SmartWay partner in 2005, Lowe’s has collaborated
with carriers to reduce emissions and adopt innovative technology
while increasing its use of more fuel-efficient modes of transport, such
as rail. The EPA program has helped Lowe’s carriers reduce highway
travel by 560 million miles and resulted in diesel fuel savings of more
than 100 million gallons and carbon savings of 1.2 million tons.
In addition to influencing hundreds of its own carriers, Lowe’s is a
member of the Coalition for Responsible Transportation and worked with
EPA SmartWay to develop the Clean Trucks Initiative to reduce emissions
of port drayage trucks across the country. Last year, the EPA named
Lowe’s transportation team SmartWay Champions for its work to reduce
truck emissions and protect air quality around ports.
Find out more about Lowe’s EPA partnerships and other environmental
initiatives at Lowes.com/SocialResponsibility.
For more on simple ways to save energy, water and money, visit Lowes.com/EfficientHome.
About Lowe’s
With fiscal year 2011 sales of $50.2 billion, Lowe’s Companies, Inc. is
a FORTUNE® 100 company that serves approximately 15 million
customers a week at more than 1,745 home improvement stores in the
United States, Canada and Mexico. Founded in 1946 and based in
Mooresville, N.C., Lowe’s is the second-largest home improvement
retailer in the world. For more information, visit Lowes.com.
Photos/Multimedia Gallery Available: http://www.businesswire.com/cgi-bin/mmg.cgi?eid=50435385&lang=en
Lowe’s Companies, Inc.
Steve Salazar, 704-758-4345
[email protected]
Source: Lowe’s Companies, Inc.
