The Energy Department joined LEEP Campaign co-organizers to recognize 18 organizations, including Manheim New York, for leading the way in efficient lighting. Manheim New York received the “Highest Absolute Annual Savings in a Retrofit at a Single Parking Area” award. The location replaced medium and high-wattage metal halide with LED fixtures, reducing its consumption by 1,761,687 kilowatt-hours (kWh) and resulting in nearly 70 percent energy savings.

“We’re honored to be recognized with this award,” said Manheim New York General Manager Mark Pester. “The LED retrofit project has had a positive impact on our facility, not only by significantly reducing our energy consumption, but also improving the lighting quality. We’re proud of our contribution to Cox’s sustainability initiatives, and hope that the success we’ve achieved influences other businesses to consider more efficient lighting alternatives in their facilities.” 

This is the second year in a row that a Manheim location has received a LEEP award. Manheim Pennsylvania was a 2014 recipient. Manheim is a part of Cox Enterprises and participates in Cox Conserves, the company’s national sustainability program that seeks to send zero waste to landfill by 2024 and become carbon and water neutral by 2044.

Through the LEEP Campaign, the Energy Department’s Better Buildings Alliance, the Building Owners and Managers Association, the Green Parking Council, the International Facility Management Association, and the International Parking Institute are working together to help owners of parking lots and garages upgrade to energy efficient lighting. 

Combined, the 18 2015 LEEP award winners along with the twelve 2014 LEEP award winners are saving nearly 30 million kWh and $3 million per year by upgrading to high efficiency lighting in over 200,000 parking spaces nationwide. 

“It might only take one person to change a light bulb, but it took dedicated efforts by the many thoughtful leaders of LEEP award winners to demonstrate how much can be gained through advanced, cost-effective lighting technologies in parking lots and garages,” said Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy David Danielson. “These innovative solutions also enhance safety and improve working conditions for customers, tenants and employees.”

To date, more than 140 U.S. businesses and organizations are participating in the campaign and planning or installing energy efficient lighting in their parking lots and garages. In the past year, these organizations have committed to install efficient lighting across more than 470 million square feet of parking space – cutting energy use on average by 60 percent. Another 160 organizations are signed up as LEEP Campaign Supporters. 

As a cornerstone of President Obama’s Climate Action Plan, Better Buildings aims to make commercial, public, industrial, and residential buildings 20 percent more energy efficient over the next decade. This means saving billions of dollars on energy bills, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and creating thousands of jobs. Through Better Buildings, public and private sector organizations across the country we are working together to share and replicate positive gains in energy efficiency and catalyze change and investment in energy efficiency. Read more about Better Buildings partner results and the innovative solutions being shared with others in the Better Buildings Solution Center.