The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced John B. Sanfilippo & Son (NASDAQ:  JBSS), www.jbssinc.com as one of this year’s recipients of the ENERGY STAR Partner of the Year Award for excellence in energy management.

 “JBSS’ robust energy management program is a national model, demonstrating how to fight climate change through energy efficiency,” said Elizabeth Craig, Acting Director of EPA’s Office of Atmospheric Programs. “Effective energy management not only helps the bottom line, but it also is our most cost-effective climate strategy,” Craig added.

In 2010, EPA recognized three JBSS facilities for reducing energy consumption more than 10% as part of ENERGY STAR’s Challenge for Industry. This 2011 ENERGY STAR Partner of the Year Award recognizes their overall corporate efforts. “It is gratifying to receive industry recognition for our work in reducing our carbon footprint,” said Jasper Sanfilippo Jr., President and Chief Operating Officer of JBSS.  

“It took a collective effort on behalf of all of our employees to drive improvements, and I’m very proud of their dedication and work,” Sanfilippo added.

Over the past three years, JBSS has developed resource conservation teams at all five of its facilities. JBSS conducts annual energy assessments at each of its plants to help establish a baseline and to set both short-term and long-term goals to reduce its use of water, nitrogen, electricity and gas.

In 2010 alone, Americans, with the help of ENERGY STAR, prevented 170 million metric tons of GHG emissions ––equivalent to the annual emissions from 34 million vehicles — and saved $18 billion on their utility bills, according to the EPA.