Natural Resources Canada
98/98 (c)

BACKGROUNDER

CANADA'S NATIONAL ENERGY EFFICIENCY AWARDS HONOUR INNOVATION AND PROGRESS IN ENERGY EFFICIENCY

Winners of the National Energy Efficiency Awards will be honoured at a ceremony on May 19, 1999 during the Canadian Conference on Energy Efficiency to take place May 18 - 20 at the Convention Centre in Ottawa.

The National Energy Efficiency Awards competition is open to all individuals and organizations and gives them an opportunity to demonstrate Canadians' spirit of innovation. These awards are designed to highlight our country's most promising energy efficiency initiatives and to encourage continued research and development in energy efficiency.

Those who wish to compete for a National Energy Efficiency Award must submit a nomination form in one of the following award categories:

Equipment

Two awards will be made available for energy-using equipment that is primarily residential, commercial or industrial. This equipment must demonstrate significant improvements in energy efficiency.

Building projects

Three awards in this category will be available for new construction or renovation projects that upgrade the energy performance of buildings for residential, commercial, public, institutional or manufacturing use.

Industry

Four industrial organizations will be honoured for their spirit of innovation and their efforts to improve the energy efficiency of their final products.

Transportation

Up to five prizes will be awarded in this category. One will recognize significant innovation in the management of heavy vehicles and another will highlight management of light vehicle fleets. Two awards are allocated for innovation in transportation technology for large and small vehicles. A fifth prize is for a transportation system initiative to improve fuel efficiency.

Public outreach

An outreach award will honour an energy awareness campaign or the most significant educational program for energy-efficient equipment.

Student competition

Students have an opportunity to demonstrate their spirit of innovation by submitting concepts or projects they have developed that improve energy efficiency within the various sectors of the contest.

Finalists and winners will receive materials that will help them promote their innovations through the media. They will also be featured prominently in all OEE publications and promotional material for the following year's Canadian Conference on Energy Efficiency. The winner of the student competition will also receive a $2,000 cash award.

The deadline for nominations is March 31, 1999. Interested parties are asked to contact the Conference Secretariat at 1-800-342-7146, for an awards booklet.

For more information please contact:
Pierre D'Amour
Tel: (514) 393-1378
Fax: (514) 875-7505
pdamour@marcon.qc.ca
or
Emmanuelle Géhin
Tel: (514) 393-1378
Fax: (514) 875-7505
egehin@marcon.qc.ca