March 25, 2009—Merck & Co. recently announced that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has recognized the company with its 2009 Energy Star Sustained Excellence Award for continued efforts to protect the environment.
Merck, an Energy Star partner since 2004, has been recognized by the EPA for four consecutive years—twice as Partner of the Year and twice for Sustained Excellence. In 2008, Merck reportedly exceeded its energy reduction goals, decreasing energy usage per unit of area by 30 percent from a 2004 baseline.
Merck says it is committed to reducing its environmental footprint by such actions as energy use improvements, reduced water use, and converting to renewable resources such as solar power. The company’s world headquarters in Whitehouse Station, NJ qualified for the Energy Star label in 2007 and 2008. Merck is also a member of the EPA’s Climate Leaders and Climate RESOLVE programs.
The 2009 Sustained Excellence Awards are given to a select group of organizations that have exhibited outstanding leadership year after year, out of the more than 12,000 organizations that participate in Energy Star. These winners have reduced greenhouse gas emissions by setting and achieving aggressive goals, employing innovative approaches, and showing others what can be achieved through energy efficiency, notes EPA.
