2005/28 (a)

BACKGROUNDER

ENERGY STAR® Market Transformation Award Winners for 2005

Category: ENERGY STAR Manufacturer of the Year
Winner: Whirlpool Canada Inc.
In addition to ensuring that consumers have access to qualified products in a range of styles, sizes and prices, Whirlpool Canada provides retail salespeople with the skills and knowledge they need to boost sales of energy-efficient appliances. The company also promotes ENERGY STAR-qualified appliances through television advertising, in-store promotions, product literature and on its Web site.

Category: ENERGY STAR Retailer of the Year
Winner: Centennial Windows Ltd.
Every product Centennial Windows manufactures is ENERGY STAR-qualified for installation anywhere in Canada, including the far North. The company encourages customers to have an EnerGuide for Houses evaluation done before purchasing new windows, and has also partnered with Union Gas in southwestern Ontario to offer a $50 rebate on utility bills for every ENERGY STAR-qualified window purchased.

Category: ENERGY STAR Utility of the Year
Winner: British Columbia Hydro and Power Authority (BC Hydro)
In the fall of 2004, the utility introduced a rebate program to encourage consumers to purchase energy-efficient compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs). British Columbia residents responded by redeeming 18,000 coupons in only a few short weeks. The rebate program was part of an ongoing campaign that has successfully expanded the market for ENERGY STAR-qualified CFLs in the province and contributed to a drop in price of more than 50 percent.

Category: ENERGY STAR Promotional Campaign of the Year
Co-Winners: SaskEnergy and Manitoba Hydro (co-winners)
Through a financial partnership with Natural Resources Canada, SaskEnergy offered prime-rate loans for approved heating equipment. Within four months, more than 800 customers had taken advantage of the offer, bringing the number of Saskatchewan homeowners who have upgraded their heating equipment in the past four years to close to 10,000. Such activities are believed to have helped Saskatchewan achieve the highest levels of ENERGY STAR awareness in Canada.

Manitoba Hydro launched its Power Smart Compact Fluorescent Lighting Program, a "buy one, get two free" promotional campaign undertaken in partnership with manufacturers and retailers, in the fall of 2004. As a result, the utility distributed close to 140,000 ENERGY STAR-qualified compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) — almost 50 percent more than had been expected — as well as an additional 1,800 ENERGY STAR-qualified CFLs to homeowners who requested EnerGuide for Houses evaluations.

Category: ENERGY STAR Collaborative Initiative of the Year
Winner: Hydro-Québec
Under the Energy Wise banner, Hydro-Québec has entered into partnerships to promote energy- efficiency improvements in Quebec homes. These partnerships led to activities such as in-store promotions to encourage the use of ENERGY STAR-qualified compact fluorescent lamps, a contest for employees and visitors offering a $2,500 voucher for the purchase of ENERGY STAR-qualified appliances, and sponsorship of the Ma Maison Rona television program.

Category: ENERGY STAR Participant of the Year
Winner: Sears Canada Inc.
From the time the program arrived in Canada, Sears has expanded the number of models in its Kenmore line of appliances that qualify for the ENERGY STAR logo, and has featured the symbol prominently in its weekly advertising supplements, catalogue, Web site and stores. It is also taking steps to ensure that all ENERGY STAR-qualified products are offered at the same price as comparable non-qualifying products.

Category: ENERGY STAR Advocate of the Year
Winner: Home Depot Canada
In September 2004, Home Depot offered special discounts and information on ENERGY STAR-qualified products during its second annual Energy Smarts event. It also organizes in-store seminars and other educational events that profile these products and provides ENERGY STAR information on product labels, hang-tags and brochures whenever possible.

Category: ENERGY STAR Recruit of the Year
Winner: Corbeil Appliances
In June 2004, Corbeil sponsored a draw for an ENERGY STAR-qualified washer and dryer set during the Montréal Science Centre's energy-efficiency week. It also paid the equivalent of both sales taxes to consumers who purchased ENERGY STAR-qualified appliances
during a sales event. In addition, the company also sponsors the popular television program Ma Maison Rona.

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