Dunkin' Brands, National Grid and Eversource Partnership Honored by Association of Energy Services Professionals

CANTON, Mass., March 6, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --  Dunkin' Brands Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: DNKN), the parent company of Dunkin' Donuts and Baskin-Robbins, National Grid (LSE: NG; NYSE: NGG) and Eversource (NYSE: ES) have been honored with the Association of Energy Services Professionals (AESP) 2017 Energy Award for Outstanding Achievement in Non-Residential Program Design and Implementation, recently presented at AESP's 27^th National Conference & Expo in Orlando, Florida. AESP recognized the three companies for their collaboration in developing the Dunkin' Brands Energy Management Program, a strategic partnership for the development of streamlined processes to engage Dunkin' Donuts franchise owners in investing in energy efficiency.

National Grid and Eversource partnered with Dunkin' Brands to identify opportunities for key energy efficiency upgrades for its Dunkin' Donuts franchise owners. The team structured the program to provide a simple path, generous incentives and financing for franchisees opting into the program to implement these upgrades. The Energy Management Program addressed whole building energy savings, while providing insight into building operations and system controls to reduce overall operating costs and encourage investments to pursue energy efficiency. The optional program applies to participating franchisees' restaurants both within National Grid and Eversource's Massachusetts, Connecticut and Rhode Island service territories.

"Dunkin' Brands is committed to supporting our franchisees' initiatives towards reducing energy usage and adopting sustainable approaches whenever possible," said Kate Jaspon, Vice President, Finance & Treasury. "Through our collaboration with National Grid and Eversource, we have developed an innovative program that provides our franchisees an effective process for investing in energy efficiency in ways that can create more sustainable restaurants while maintaining store profitability. We are honored that the result of our partnership has been recognized by AESP, a leading association in energy efficiency and management."

"National Grid is proud to be part of the team receiving this award. It highlights our commitment to energy efficiency and getting more tools in the hands of customers to help them save energy, while making a positive impact on the environment," said John Isberg, Vice President, Customer Solutions for National Grid. "It's extremely gratifying for us to have worked with Dunkin' Brands as they do their part to reduce energy usage and invest in a more sustainable energy future."

"Our partnership with Dunkin' Brands exemplifies the evolution of how we bring our energy efficiency solutions to customers," said Tilak Subrahmanian, Vice President of Energy Efficiency at Eversource. "Instead of the one-size-fits-all programming of years past, we now have the ability and the infrastructure to collaborate with key customers, like Dunkin' Donuts, to design energy solutions tailored to their specific business objectives."

Founded in 1989, AESP is a member-based association dedicated to improving the delivery and implementation of energy efficiency, energy management and distributed renewable resources. AESP provides professional development programs, a network of energy practitioners, and promotes the transfer of knowledge and experience. AESP members work in the energy services industry and represent electric and natural gas utilities, public benefits associations, regulatory and non-profit entities, vendors, manufacturers and consulting firms. 

About Dunkin' Brands Group, Inc.

With more than 20,000 points of distribution in more than 60 countries worldwide, Dunkin' Brands Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: DNKN) is one of the world's leading franchisors of quick service restaurants (QSR) serving hot and cold coffee and baked goods, as well as hard-serve ice cream. At the end of the fourth quarter 2016, Dunkin' Brands' 100 percent franchised business model included more than 12,200 Dunkin' Donuts restaurants and more than 7,800 Baskin-Robbins restaurants. Dunkin' Brands Group, Inc. is headquartered in Canton, Mass.

About National Grid

National Grid (LSE: NG; NYSE: NGG) is an electricity and natural gas delivery company that connects nearly 7 million customers to vital energy sources through its networks in New York, Massachusetts and Rhode Island. It is the largest distributor of natural gas in the Northeast. National Grid also operates the systems that deliver gas and electricity across Great Britain.

Through its U.S. Connect21 strategy, National Grid is transforming its electricity and natural gas networks to support the 21st century digital economy with smarter, cleaner, and more resilient energy solutions. Connect21 is vital to our communities' long-term economic and environmental health and aligns with regulatory initiatives in New York (REV: Reforming the Energy Vision) and Massachusetts (Grid Modernization).

For more information please visit our website: www.nationalgridus.com, or our Connecting website. You can also follow us on Twitter, watch us on You Tube, Friend us on Facebook and find our photos on Instagram.

About Eversource

Eversource (NYSE: ES) transmits and delivers electricity and natural gas for more than 3.7 million electric and natural gas customers in Connecticut, Massachusetts and New Hampshire. Recognized as the top U.S. utility for its energy efficiency programs by the sustainability advocacy organization Ceres, Eversource harnesses the commitment of its approximately 8,000 employees across three states to build a single, united company around the mission of delivering reliable energy and superior customer service. For more information, please visit our website (www.eversource.com) and follow us on Twitter (@EversourceCorp) and Facebook (facebook.com/EversourceEnergy).

Contact:
Lindsay Cronin
Dunkin' Brands
781-737-5200
Lindsay.Cronin@dunkinbrands.com  

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SOURCE Dunkin' Brands