SUNNYVALE, Calif., May 8, 2007 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) -- Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) has been selected to receive the Flex Your Power Award in the state of California for its success in saving energy during 2006. Flex Your Power is a partnership of California's utilities, residents, businesses, institutions, government agencies and nonprofit organizations working to save energy.
The Flex Your Power Awards were created in 2001 to acknowledge outstanding leadership in energy efficiency that helped California get through its energy crisis of 2000-2001. Awards are made in four categories: energy efficiency, education and leadership, innovative products and services, and demand response. The awards were presented at a ceremony in San Francisco on May 5.
Northrop Grumman was the only industrial corporation among five winners of the Best Overall award, the highest of the honors given. The other top winners were two schools, a laboratory and a state agency.
Northrop Grumman's Marine Systems business unit made demand response a top priority in its energy action plan by identifying opportunities for lowering peak demand and educating employees on the issue. During the summer of 2006, Northrop Grumman cut demand by an average of 28,900 kilowatts, or 21%, during statewide demand response events. During two major heat storms, demand was cut by 33%.
These impressive results were achieved by shifting production to shut down machinery, initiating employee awareness emails, and turning off unnecessary equipment, lighting and heating/air conditioning units. In addition, efficiency programs reduced overall consumption in 2006 by 1.2 million kilowatt-hours (kWh) and cut CO2 emissions by almost 1 million pounds.
"We are proud to be honored by Flex Your Power for our success in driving energy conservation and efficiency," said David Perry, vice president of Northrop Grumman's Marine Systems business unit. "Our skilled workforce is dedicated to setting and achieving aggressive goals that meet the needs of our business, our environment and our community."
Forty-one businesses, local governments and institutions were selected as Flex Your Power Award winners from a highly competitive pool of several hundred applicants. Cumulatively, award winners over the past two years have saved more than $172 million and one billion kWh, and have reduced greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to removing nearly 85,000 cars from of the road.
"The awards present an opportunity for California to congratulate the leadership shown by this year's Flex Your Power Award winners who have demonstrated that we can all save money and the environment," said Director Walter McGuire of Flex Your Power. "By reducing their energy use, this year's Flex Your Power Award winners have saved more than $30 million and reduced global warming emissions equivalent to taking 40,250 cars off the road."
In addition to the California Public Utilities Commission, Flex Your Power Award winners were selected by senior representatives from the California Independent System Operator, California Energy Commission, California Urban Water Conservation Council, League of California Cities, Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, Building Owners and Managers Association, Silicon Valley Leadership Group, and Southern California Edison.
For more information on the 5th Annual Flex Your Power Awards, visit www.fypower.org.
Northrop Grumman Corporation is a $30 billion global defense and technology company whose 122,000 employees provide innovative systems, products, and solutions in information and services, electronics, aerospace and shipbuilding to government and commercial customers worldwide.