U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Recognizes APS with Highest Honor for Energy Efficiency13:18 EDT Thursday, April 14, 2011 PHOENIX (Business Wire) -- For the second consecutive year, Arizona Public Service has earned the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's highest honor – The ENERGY STAR Sustained Excellence Award – for continued leadership in protecting the environment through energy efficiency. APS received the award yesterday at a ceremony in Washington. The award recognizes the APS ENERGY STAR Homes Program and the APS Home Performance with ENERGY STAR Program for promoting energy efficiency and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The ENERGY STAR awards are presented to a select group of organizations that exhibit outstanding leadership year after year. Award winners are selected from more than 17,000 organizations across the country that participate in the ENERGY STAR program. “To be honored by the EPA for our leadership is high praise indeed. It validates the effort we are making to create a sustainable energy future for Arizona,” said Terry Orlick, APS Director of Marketing. “The real significance of our commitment to energy efficiency is what it means to our customers – our programs empower them to use energy in the most efficient and affordable manner possible.” Since the launch of the company's first energy efficiency program in 2005, APS programs have helped customers save more than 11.5 billion kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity over the expected life of the energy efficiency measures installed; these energy savings are equal to more than $1 billion in customer savings. The kWh savings equate to reducing greenhouse gas emissions by more than 10 billion pounds, the equivalent of taking nearly 900,000 cars off the road. “APS's long term leadership and commitment to energy efficiency demonstrates the types of accomplishments that we can all achieve in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and protecting our global environment,” said Elizabeth Craig, Acting Director of EPA's Office of Atmospheric Programs. “We look forward to their continued partnership and leadership.” In addition to receiving the Sustained Excellence Award, APS is a proud partner of the Foundation for Senior Living (FSL), Arizona's Home Performance with ENERGY STAR sponsor, who also will receive an EPA Partner of the Year Award for Program Delivery – Emerging Markets. “We launched the APS Home Performance with ENERGY STAR Program in 2010 and in just one year, Arizona has become one of the fastest growing markets for home energy retrofitting in the country,” said Gavin Hastings, APS Senior Marketing Coordinator. “This program not only offers significant energy savings for our customers, but will continue to create green jobs for Arizona.” This is the fifth consecutive year APS has been recognized nationally by the EPA. In 2007, the company won Partner of the Year for Excellence in Program Delivery of its APS Residential CFL Lighting Program, and for the past three years APS has won Partner of the Year for Excellence in Program Delivery of the ENERGY STAR Homes Program. “To be recognized five years running by the EPA validates APS's focus on best serving our customers,” said Tom Hines, APS Energy Efficiency Program Manager. “This year, APS is being honored for sustaining a seasoned and successful program and for delivering a new, up-and-coming program. Moving forward, we will continue to develop and expand programs that help our customers save energy and money – that's our ultimate goal.” About APS APS, Arizona's largest and longest-serving electricity utility, serves more than 1.1 million customers in 11 of the state's 15 counties. With headquarters in Phoenix, APS is the principal subsidiary of Pinnacle West Capital Corp. (NYSE: PNW). About ENERGY STAR ENERGY STAR was introduced by EPA in 1992 as a voluntary, market-based partnership to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and other pollutants associated with energy use. Today, the ENERGY STAR label can be found on more than 60 kinds of products, as well as new homes and buildings. Last year alone, Americans, with the help of ENERGY STAR, saved $18 billion on their utility bills and prevented greenhouse gas equivalent to those of 34 million cars. Products, homes and buildings that have earned the ENERGY STAR prevent emissions by meeting strict energy-efficiency specifications set by the EPA. For more information, go to energystar.gov. APSMedia Contact:Jenna Shaver, 602-250-4403jenna.shaver@aps.comWeb site: aps.com/newsroom