The Distilled Spirits Council (DISCUS) has received the 2023 ENERGY STAR PARTNER OF THE YEAR award from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Department of Energy for its partnership in sharing best practices and resources on energy-saving tools for distilleries.

“This special recognition from the EPA means a great deal to the spirits industry,” said Chris Swonger, DISCUS president and CEO. “Distillers across the country are deeply committed to finding more efficient ways to use energy in producing our great products.  We recognize that our continued success depends on protecting our environment and natural resources from grain to glass.”

DISCUS received the award for partnering with the EPA to launch and disseminate the ENERGY STAR Guide for Energy Efficiency and Cost Saving Opportunities for Distilleries.  The Guide, which included nearly 180 energy savings and efficiency opportunities designed specifically for distilleries, was developed based on experiences from distilleries and the wider industry.

DISCUS also helped engage the spirits industry in developing an Energy Performance Indicator (EPI) benchmarking tool, which will enable distilleries to secure ENERGY STAR certification for production facilities.

“As we accelerate historic efforts to address climate change, public-private partnerships will be essential to realizing the scale of our ambition,” said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan.  “I applaud this year’s ENERGY STAR award winners for working with EPA to deliver a clean energy future that saves American consumers and businesses money and creates jobs.”

Each year, the ENERGY STAR program honors a select group of businesses and organizations that have made outstanding contributions in the transition to a clean energy economy. ENERGY STAR award winners lead their industries in the production, sale, and adoption of energy-efficient products, homes, buildings, services, and strategies. These efforts are essential to fighting the climate crisis, protecting public health, and creating a clean energy future for everyone.

Winners are selected from a network of thousands of ENERGY STAR partners. For a complete list of 2023 winners and more information about ENERGY STAR’s awards program, visit energystar.gov/awardwinners.