FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MIDWEST BLAZES ENERGY EFFICIENCY TRAIL: 2ND ANNUAL INSPIRING EFFICIENCY AWARD WINNERS ANNOUNCED
CHICAGO, IL, September 19, 2005 --/WORLD-WIRE/-- The Midwest Energy Efficiency Alliance (MEEA) announced its 2005 winners of the Inspiring Efficiency Awards. These awards recognize innovators for their dedicated work in developing and applying energy efficient technologies, programs and policy initiatives.
"This year's award winners clearly show that substantial progress is being made to increase energy efficiency and promote wise consumption practices," said Alecia Ward, Executive Director of MEEA. "We have an excellent cross section of winners in government, utilities, business and the non-profit arena who demonstrate how measurable results can be achieved."
The 2005 Inspiring Efficiency Award winners are:
- Leadership Award - Michigan Governor, Jennifer Granholm
Governor Granholm will be honored for implementing innovative energy and sustainability policies that reduced the state of Michigan's energy consumption by $400,000 in the first year, mandated usage of fuel efficient vehicles and alternative fuels in state fleets whenever possible, and improved Michigan's Uniform Energy Code which will result in estimated individual homeowner savings of $374 per year in reduced energy bills.
- Education Award - University of Illinois Chicago Energy Resources Center
The University of Chicago Energy Resources Center will be recognized for their collaborative work in the Midwest Combined Heat and Power Initiative. The Midwest Combined Heat and Power Application Center (MAC) is a partnership between the Energy Resource Center at University of Illinois at Chicago and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to promote and foster Combined Heat and Power (CHP) technologies and applications throughout the Midwest. Working with the region's state energy offices, industry advocates, equipment suppliers and CHP clients, the MAC provides credible and objective information, technical assistance and targeted information to promote the installation of CHP systems.
CHP capacity in the MAC region has increased by 50% and yields $1.5 billion in energy bill savings and avoids 2.2 metric tons of carbon equivalents from being released. It has become a model for four other centers around the U.S.
- Impact Award - MidAmerican Design Assistance for Commercial Buildings
The Commercial New Construction Program promotes the optimal integration of energy efficient design into new buildings and renovation projects. The program has led to new strategies that increase capacity and achieve energy savings 30%-60% above existing state energy codes. To date, the program has enrolled projects totaling 18 million square feet, with a $3.2 million annual savings in energy costs. This encompasses more than 18.8 MW and 55,000 MWh in annual capacity and energy savings, as well as annual gas savings of 88 Therms. Calculated as power plant emission savings, these projects avoid emission of 100 tons of SO2, more than 60 tons of NOX, and over 32,000 tons of CO2.
- Innovation Award - Center for Technology Transfer, Inc
The Center for Technology is non-profit organization created by the Focus on Energy program to increase the number of Wisconsin companies that market emerging technologies to improve the energy efficiency of the state's important business groups. The ten-year value from four CTT projects will deliver $16.4 million in energy savings. These savings will make Wisconsin's industries more competitive on an international level and lead to fewer emissions from power plants, at the same time providing jobs and income within the state.
- Marketing Award - Interstate Power and Light Co.
Interstate Power and Light Co. (IP&L) developed and implemented an agricultural Demand Side Management (DSM) program to help agricultural customers use energy more efficiently and improve their productivity and profitability. By offering and promoting farm energy audits, prescriptive rebates, custom rebates and a participating dealer program, the agriculture sector has more incentive to use energy efficient technologies. In the nine months after the program started in April 2004, 87 participants became involved with the project, achieving 1.6 million kWh in energy savings.
Alecia Ward said, "We are pleased to honor the 2005 award winners live at our Energy Solutions Conference in Chicago on Oct. 3. It promises to be a great event. And, we will also announce the 2005 Chairman's Award recipient. For anyone whose work involves energy, energy efficiency and sustainability this is a must attend event."
Details are as follows…
Monday, October 3, 2005
Wyndham Chicago Hotel
633 N. Saint Clair
Chicago, Illinois
Reception 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm
Awards Ceremony 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
About MEEA
The Midwest Energy Efficiency Alliance (MEEA) is a collaborative network whose purpose is to advance energy efficiency in the Midwest in order to support sustainable economic development and environmental preservation.
MEEA is a leader in increasing and sustaining the level of energy efficiency in the Midwest region by fostering increased market penetration of existing energy-efficient technologies and promoting new technologies, products and best practices, including renewable energy.
CONTACT:
Alecia Ward
312-587-8390 ext. 15
award@mwalliance.org
www.mwalliance.org
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