The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has recognized The Home Depot, the world's largest home improvement retailer, with a 2016 ENERGY STAR Partner of the Year – Sustained Excellence Award – for its continued leadership in offering the latest innovations in energy efficient products.

In 2015, The Home Depot helped customers save nearly $701.6 million in annual utility costs, equaling a 4 million metric ton decrease in greenhouse gas emissions through the sale of ENERGY STAR certified products. The Home Depot offers more than 17,000 ENERGY STAR products in stores and online.

This is the ninth year the company has been recognized by EPA for its achievements.

In December 2015, The Home Depot also announced that it had exceeded 2015 sustainability goals, achieving a reduction of energy use in its stores by 30 percent over 2004 levels – a savings of more than 8 billion kilowatts over ten years. The original goal set in 2010 was to reduce energy use by 20 percent.

"We're constantly seeking new and innovative products that are energy efficient, enabling our customers to save in their homes and businesses as we also reduce energy use in our stores," says Ron Jarvis, vice president of environmental for The Home Depot.

The company also continues to implement a number of sustainability enhancements to its stores each year including Energy Management Systems to control all store lighting and HVACs and a fuel cell program that provides up to 85 percent of the energy that each participating store needs to operate.