American Water Geothermal System Receives 2017 EBJ Business Achievement Award

American Water (NYSE: AWK), the largest publicly traded U.S. water and wastewater utility company, announced today that they have been awarded the 2017 Environmental Business Journal (EBJ) Business Achievement Award – Renewable Energy for their innovative geothermal system at William L. Buck Elementary School in Valley Stream, N.Y.

The EBJ Business Achievement Award honors companies for revenue growth, acquisitions, innovative project designs, technology applications, new practice areas, social contributions and industry leadership in 2017.

“We are honored to be recognized for our innovative work on geothermal energy,” said Walter Lynch, Chief Operating Officer of American Water. “Our modified geothermal system is able to provide heating and cooling for a 40,000 square-foot school without utilizing fossil fuels during the winter. This unique innovation could transform traditional geothermal systems and introduce a new application in renewable energy for communities seeking creative and cost-effective approaches to sustainability.”

The company has taken a creative approach to traditional geothermal technology and developed a new renewable energy application that will lower energy costs and reduce a building’s carbon footprint. The American Water geothermal system allowed the William L. Buck Elementary School to save 41,000 BTU /square foot/year, and kept the building cool in the summer and warm in the winter.

The 2017 EBJ awards will be presented at a special ceremony at the Environmental Industry Summit XVI in San Diego, Calif. on March 21, 2018. The Environmental Industry Summit is an annual three-day executive retreat hosted by EBI, Inc. and 2020 Environmental Group.

About the EBJ Business Achievement Awards

In October-December 2013, Climate Change Business Journal solicited nominations for the EBJ Business Achievement Awards. Nominations were accepted in 200-word essays in either specific or unspecified categories. Final awards were determined by a committee of EBJ staff and EBJ editorial advisory board members. (Disclaimer: company audits were not conducted to verify information or claims submitted with nominations.)

About EBI

Founded in 1988, Environmental Business International Inc. (EBI, San Diego, Calif.) is a research, publishing and consulting company that specializes in defining emerging markets and generating strategic market intelligence for companies, investors and policymakers. EBI publishes Environmental Business Journal®, the leading provider of strategic information for the environmental industry, and Climate Change Business Journal®, which covers nine segments of the Climate Change Industry. EBI also performs contract research for the government and private sector and founded the Environmental Industry Summit, an annual three-day event for executives in the environmental industry.

About American Water

With a history dating back to 1886, American Water is the largest and most geographically diverse U.S. publicly traded water and wastewater utility company. The company employs more than 6,900 dedicated professionals who provide regulated and market-based drinking water, wastewater and other related services to an estimated 15 million people in 46 states and Ontario, Canada. American Water provides safe, clean, affordable and reliable water services to our customers to make sure we keep their lives flowing. For more information, visit amwater.com and follow American Water on Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn.

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