Two Pennsylvania organizations were among the 23 individuals, organizations and companies from around the world that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is recognizing for their efforts to protect the Earth's climate and stratospheric ozone layer.

Mobile Air Conditioning Society Worldwide, Lansdale, was named a winner of EPA’s 2006 Climate Protection Award. The Ozone Hole Website, Pocono Pines, was named a winner of the 2006 Stratospheric Ozone Protection Award.

Last year, the winners of the climate protection award and the stratospheric protection award collectively purchased more than 1.5 million megawatt hours of green power to avoid burning fossil fuels. They also generated wind and solar power onsite, increased energy efficiency, recycled refrigerants, and slashed the use of ozone-depleting substances and greenhouse gases.

EPA has honored 495 individuals and organizations from 40 countries since the annual stratospheric ozone protection awards began in 1990. Subsequently, EPA focused special attention on the reduction of greenhouse gases and protection of the Earth's climate when it began the climate protection awards in 1998 and has recognized 122 individuals and organizations from 16 countries since then.

A list of the 2006 Ozone Award Winners are available online.

5/19/2006