“ENERGY STAR® Partner of the Year” -- the highest award presented to participating organizations by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) -- has been bagged by Saint-Gobain for outstanding energy management and reductions in greenhouse gas emissions for the second year in a row.

Saint-Gobain's accomplishments will be recognized at an awards ceremony in Washington, DC, on March 18, 2010. No other manufacturer of glasscontainers or fibre glass insulation has ever received the Partner of the Year award.

According to the announcement, through a wide range of energy-awareness programs, process improvements and energy management practices in 2009, Saint-Gobain businesses in North America were able to reduce their energy usage by 2.2 percent--equivalent to the amount of energy needed to make nearly 486 million glass bottles or enough fiber glass insulation for more than 100,000 typical U.S. homes. The company's energy-use reduction equalled a reduction in carbon dioxide emissions of more than 70,000 tons last year.

"We're very proud of the contributions made by employees throughout our organization which made this award possible," says Gilles Colas, general delegate for Saint-Gobain in North America. "As the world leader in building materials, energy efficiency is central to our 'habitat' business strategy. This is demonstrated in our strong focus on sustainable development and environmental responsibility in the products we supply and in our manufacturing processes. The Partner of the Year Award underscores our commitment to limiting the environmental impact of our manufacturing processes and protecting the health of the communities where we live and work."

"Saint-Gobain is leading the fight against climate change through greater energy efficiency," says Gina McCarthy, EPA Assistant Administrator for Air and Radiation.  "Saint-Gobain's robust energy management program is a model for others and affirms that energy efficiency is our most cost-effective climate strategy."

The 2010 Partner of the Year Awards recognize efforts to use energy efficiently in facility operations and to integrate superior energy management into overall organizational strategy.  Award winners are selected from more than 17,000 organizations that participate in the ENERGY STAR program.