# 2015 **G REEN**  

# P **OWER** 

# L **EADERSHIP** 

# A**WARDS**



# A **PPLICATION** 

# I **NSTRUCTIONS** 

# : **U.S. EPA**  **P ARTNERSHIP**  

# C**ATEGORIES 1.**  **Ensure Eligibility** An applicant or organization nominated for an award by a third
- party is eligible if the following requirements are met:

 Is an EPA Green Power Partner and will maintain partner status through the awards event.  Applicants that are not EPA Green Power Partners must join the Partnership by April 1 7, 201 5 .  Only eligible green power generated from U.S. - based renewable energy resources will be considered. Please review the Partnership Requirements (PDF) (1 6 pp, 2 MB ) for more information.  Applicants must have an operational on
- site green power generator or have completed a green power purchase by April 1 7, 201 5 . The green power purchase is considered complete when delivery is executed .  Previous winners and applicants are eligible.  Only U.S.
- based operations and facilities are eligible.  Applicants or nominees will be evaluated on the green power use they have reported to the Green Power Partnership as of April 17, 2015.  Please note: Eligibility will be verified during the review pro cess, and finalists will need to pass an EPA compliance screen in order to be selected. 

## 2. **Complete Application Form** Please submit one application form for each organization 1



### . Organizations should submit only one application form, even if they are applying for multiple award categories . Third
- parties may nominate more than one organization for an award, but must use a separate application for each nominee.

1 Organizations may submit a Green Power Leadership Award application on their own behalf, OR third
- parties may nominate an organization for an award. Use this application in either instance. The term “applicant” is used in both instances.

### Organizations are encouraged to apply directly. If you are **a third -**  **party nominating an** 

**organization for an award,**  **th e organization you are nominating**  **MUST be copied on the email submittal and we advise you to**  **consult with them**  **to accurately capture their full contribution to the green power marketplace, not just your experience with them.**  Please c omplet e all sections of the form: **Award Categories Contact Information**  **Elig ibility Questions**  **Green Power Use Questions & Data Form**  **Essay Questions Communications Activities**  

## 3. **Submit Supplemental Materials (encouraged but not required)**
 If possible, please provide all supplemental materials supporti ng communications claims in one (1) PDF file. Please be sure to label all supplemental materials with the organization’s name in the filename. Note that materials may be emailed to gpla@erg.com if less than 10 MB in size. If larger, please contact Roger Fernandez using the information below. 

## 4. **Email all materials** to GPLA@erg.com . Contact Roger Fernandez (information below) with any issues or questions.  Please note that all applicants must submit a green power use form in conjunction with the GPLA application (see the Green Power Use & Data For m section in this application)
. After the award application and green power use form s are submitted, EPA will confirm receipt and follow up with questions, if necessary . 

## Questions? Email GPLA@erg.com or contact Roger Fernandez at (202) 343
-9386 or fernandez.roger@epa.gov . 

## Deadline **Friday , April**  **1 7, 201**  **5 (11:59 pm eastern)**  Applications will be accepted beginning February 2 3 , 201 5 .

# A **PPLICATION** 

# F **ORM Award Categories**  Please check all that apply. Green Power Purchasing On - site Generation Partner of the Year Green Power Community of the Year (only EPA Green Power Communities are eligible) Sustained Excellence (open to Partners that continue to demonstrate excellence and leadership in their green power use) 

### Applicant **Contact Information** Note: Please fill out the fields below with contact information for the organization applying fo r or being nominated for a Green Power Leadership Award. **Organization Contact Name**  **Title Address (Street 1)**  **Address (Street 2) City**  **State Zip**  **Phone E**  **m ail** 


### Submitter Contact Information **N OTE** **:** Please fill out the contact information below if you are a third
-party submitting an application for another organization If same as contact information above, check here and skip: **Organization Contact Name**  **Title Address (Street 1)**  **Address (Street 2) City**  **State Zip**  **Phone E**  **m ail**  **Relationship to Applicant**

### Applicant’s **Communications/Public Relations Contact** If same as applicant contact information, check here and skip: **Contact Name Title**  **Phone E**  **m ail** 

## Eligibility Questions

 Will the applicant have an operational on
-site green power generator or a completed green power purchase in place by April 1 7, 201 5 ? On - site green power is only eligible if the applicant owns the renewable energy certificates (RECs) associated with the system’s output. The green power purchase is considered complete when delivery is executed. Yes No Note: Applicants will be evaluated on the green power use they have reported to the Green Power Partnership as of April 17, 2015.

 Will the applicant maintain EPA Green Power Partner status by continuing to fulfill the Partnership Requirements (PDF) through the awards event? Yes No

 Scope of the applicant’s participation in the Green Power Partnership: Organization
-wide participation [Reported electricity use covers all owned and/or leased U.S. operations of Partner] Facility- based participation [Reported electricity use covers a facility or group of facilities owned and/or leased by Partner] If the applicant’s participation is facility
- based, please list the facility or group of facilities included below.



## Green Power Use Questions **& Data F** **orm** 1. How much green power does the applicant use on
-site and/or purchase annually? (kWh/year)* *If the applicant began using green power less than a year ago, please extrapolate the green power usage to an annualized amount. Is this the applicant’s first year of using green power? Yes No 2. Has there been an incremental increase in the applicant’s total green power use since the close of the last GPLA a pplication period (April 7, 2014 ) ? If so, indicate the increased amount: (kWh/year) 3. Complete the GPLA green power use data form and email to GPLA@erg.com with the rest of your award materials. Note, if the applicant is al ready an EPA Green Power Partner, you may request a form pre
populated with the applicant’s current information by emailing GPLA@erg.com .

## Essay **Questions**

**Please note: if the applicant is selected to be**  **an award winner, EPA may use the content of these essay answers to write the applicant’s award winner profile.**  1. Why is the applicant worthy of national recognition for its green power usage? What role does green power play in the applicant’s broader business and environmental strategy? Please also discuss any innovative green power strategies the applicant has undertaken , and how the applicant has demonstrated leadership within its industry by using green power. (400 word maximum)

2. How did the applicant communicate its green power use? Beyond April 1 7, 201 5 , what future communications plans does the applicant have for promoting its green power usage? If selected, how will the applicant publicize its EPA Green Power Leadership Award internally and externally? (200 word maximum. Please note: EPA strongly encou rages each award winner to attend the ceremony in person, issue a press release, promote its status as an award winner on social media, and post notice of the award on its website.)

3. How do es the applicant build awareness about green power in general? What steps, if any, do es the applicant take to encourage stakeholders to use green power? What are the applicant’s upcoming plans to continue doing so?

## Communications Activities

 **Please check the boxes in the correct column below** and distinguish between activities led by the applicant and those led by other stakeholders such as providers, NGOs, etc.  All selected activities should have a direct communications connection to the applicant’s green power use.  If “Other” applies, pleas e explain in supplemental page(s).  Supplemental materials that correspond to the activities selected are encouraged. Please submit supplemental materials in the form of one combined PDF, if possible. You may submit **no more than 10 pages**  of supplemental materials. **Green Power Related Public Relations** Applicant led Stakeholder led Materials submitted Press releases Press conference, announcement or dedication events Media outreach/interviews/pitch stories Educational kiosks/virtual tours Promotion of ranking on EPA Top Partner List(s) Other (please explain)

Continued on next page **Green Power Related Marketing**  Applicant led Stakeholder led Materials submitted Public web page (please supply visitor statistics) Paid print, radio, television adve rtising Public service announcements Product packaging In -store communications/window stickers Marketing collateral/brochures/catalogs/flyers Public facing signage (office buildings, shuttles) Other (please explain) **Green Power Related Stakeholder Outreach** Applicant led Stakeholder led Materials submitted Speaking events/presentations/conferences/tradeshows Stakeholder newsletters Corporate intranet/internal Web announcements Web casts/videos Trade outreach (industry associa tions, tradeshow booth) Supplier and distributor outreach (workshops, etc) Stakeholder green power purchase opportunities Corporate sustainability report Sponsorships or partnerships (com mittees, task forces, events) Other (please explain)Complete this section only if applicant is an EPA Green Power Community . **Green Power Community Campaign Communications** Applicant led Stakeholder led Materials submitted Posting of EPA Green Power Community road signs Speaking events/town meetings Campaign Outreach Informational poster campaigns Chamber of Comme rce outreach Direct mailings/utility bill inserts Other (please explain)