Toyota gets Energy Star Sustained Excellence Award

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has awarded Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America Inc. (TEMA) with a 2007 Energy Star Sustained Excellence Award in recognition of its continued leadership in protecting our environment through energy efficiency. Toyota's accomplishments will be recognized at an awards ceremony in Washington, D.C., on March 21.

Toyota, an Energy Star partner since 2003, will be honored for its long-term commitment to energy efficiency and management of energy consumption across its manufacturing operations in the U.S. Across the U.S., top companies and organizations are continuing to promote energy efficiency through participation in Energy Star. Last year alone, with the help of Energy Star, Americans saved $14 billion on their energy bills and helped reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

"Protecting the environment is among one of our top business priorities at Toyota and our 15 manufacturing plants across North America," said Bruce Bremer, manager of facility engineering at TEMA. "As an Energy Star partner since 2003, energy efficiency has been a major priority for Toyota. By participating in the Energy Star program, we see the value it brings to our company and our customers."

The 2007 Sustained Excellence Awards are given to a select group of organizations that have exhibited outstanding leadership consistently. These winners have set and achieved aggressive goals, employed innovative approaches, and shown others what can be achieved through energy efficiency. These awards recognize ongoing leadership across the Energy Star program including energy-efficient products, services, new homes and in the commercial, industrial and public sectors. Award winners are selected from thousands of organizations that participate in the Energy Star program.

"Partners like Toyota are outstanding leaders in protecting our environment through energy efficiency," said Bill Wehrum, acting assistant administrator for EPA's Office of Air and Radiation. "As one of the 2007 Energy Star Sustained Excellence winners, Toyota has taken energy efficiency to new heights year after year and we all benefit."

Energy Star was introduced by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in 1992 as a voluntary market-based partnership to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through increased energy efficiency. Today, in partnership with the U.S. Department of Energy, the program offers businesses and consumers energy-efficient solutions to save energy, money and help protect the environment for future generations. More than 9,000 organizations are Energy Star partners committed to improving the energy efficiency of products, homes and businesses. For more information about Energy Star, visit www.energystar.gov.