Det Norske Veritas Earns EPA's ENERGY STAR

Det Norske Vertias (USA) Inc. in Katy, Texas, has earned the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA's) prestigious ENERGY STAR, the national symbol for superior energy efficiency and environmental protection. Commercial buildings and industrial plants that rate in the top 25 percent of facilities in the nation for energy efficiency may qualify for the ENERGY STAR.

Det Norske Vertias (USA) Inc., is pleased to accept EPA's ENERGY STAR in recognition of our energy efficiency efforts," said Peter Bjerager, Director of Operations "Through this achievement, we have demonstrated our commitment to our vision: “Global impact for a safe and sustainable future” and our purpose: “To safeguard life, property and the environment”, while also lowering our energy costs. We improved our energy performance by managing energy strategically across our entire organization and by making cost-effective improvements to our building(s). Det Norske Vertias’s Katy office has saved 34% in annual energy bills and prevented greenhouse gas emissions equal to the electricity use from 64 households for a year. Typically, commercial buildings that earn the ENERGY STAR use an average of 40 percent less energy than typical buildings and also release 35 percent less carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.

"Whether you are running a grocery store, a school, or an office building, getting the most out of your energy dollars - while reducing your carbon footprint -just makes sense," said EPA Administrator Stephen L. Johnson. “

To earn the ENERGY STAR, Det Norske Veritas took the following actions:
• Implemented Environmental Management certified to ISO 14001
• Designed and moved into a new office facility using Energy Star guidelines and LEEDs Gold level design standards in its construction

EPA's national energy performance rating system provides a 1-100 scale that helps organizations assess how efficiently their buildings use energy relative to similar buildings nationwide. A building that scores a rating of 75 or higher is eligible for the ENERGY STAR. Commercial Buildings that can earn the ENERGY STAR include offices, bank branches, financial centers, retailers, courthouses, hospitals, hotels, K-12 schools, medical offices, supermarkets, dormitories, and warehouses.

ENERGY STAR was introduced by EPA in 1992 as a voluntary, market-based partnership to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through energy efficiency. Today, the ENERGY STAR label can be found on more than 50 different kinds of products, new homes and commercial and industrial buildings. Products and buildings that have earned the ENERGY STAR designation prevent greenhouse gas emissions by meeting strict energy-efficiency specifications set by the government. In 2006, Americans, with the help of ENERGY STAR, saved about $16 billion on their energy bills while reducing the greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to those of 27 million vehicles.

For more information about ENERGY STAR visit www.energystar.gov. For more information about Det Norske Veritas visit www.dnv.com.