Charles H. Percy Award for Public Service: Governor Deval Patrick of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts
This is the Alliance's most prestigious award. It is presented to an individual in the public or private sector in recognition of an outstanding public service contribution and/or a lifetime commitment to energy efficiency.
This year's recipient of the Charles H. Percy award is Governor Deval Patrick of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts for exemplary leadership in the development and implementation of policies promoting energy efficiency, clean technology, climate protection, and green jobs.
Since taking office in 2007, Governor Patrick has worked with legislative leaders to pass five landmark pieces of legislation: Green Communities Act, Clean Energy Act, Clean Energy Biofuels Act, Green Jobs Act, Global Warming Solutions Act, and Oceans Act. The policies have made Massachusetts a national leader in promoting energy efficiency and renewable energy to reduce energy costs and ensure energy security.
Signing Massachusetts onto the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI), Governor Patrick also declared a policy of full auctioning of power plant emission allowances, with the proceeds committed to energy efficiency measures. He initiated a Zero Net Energy Buildings Task Force and a 2007 Leading By Example Executive Order that directs state agencies to reduce their energy use and greenhouse gas emissions 20 percent by Fiscal Year 2012 and 35 percent by 2020.
Read all of the 2009 Charles H. Percy Award Nominations.
Chairman's Award: Dr. Steven Chu, Secretary of Energy, United States Department of Energy
This year's Chairman's Award, whose recipient is chosen by Alliance Board Honorary Chair Sen. Mark Pryor (D-Ark.), goes to U.S. Department of Energy Secretary Steven Chu. In the few short months since his confirmation, Energy Secretary Chu, a Nobel Prize winner in physics and a former researcher at the Department of Energy's Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, has continued to be an unstinting champion for increasing the nation's energy efficiency.
When Chu addressed the Alliance's "Great Energy Efficiency Day" several months ago, he engagingly expressed his belief that energy efficiency will be a major factor in reducing the nation's carbon footprint and moving the United States towards a sustainable energy future. The secretary said he is interested in the creation of an energy "superstar" rating for products whose efficiency is above and beyond the qualifications for the Energy Star label—perhaps for the upper five or 10 percent of products in their category. Chu also said the Obama administration is providing a "triple win" for the nation in putting federal stimulus money into energy efficiency projects, as that spending will create jobs, save money for consumers and businesses, and cut CO2 emissions.
"Secretary Chu has been a crusader for energy efficiency both in the political and scientific realms," said Pryor. "From his groundbreaking physics research to his unwavering commitment to innovation as Secretary of Energy, his leadership brings us closer to meeting America's energy challenges. He is a true Star of Energy Efficiency."
Galaxy Star of Energy Efficiency Award: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
This award recognizes organizations/companies with more than $150 million in annual revenue for their efforts to promote energy efficiency.
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) is receiving the 2009 Galaxy Star of Energy Efficiency Award for advancing energy efficiency in the nation's 1.2 million units of low-income housing.
HUD's Energy Performance Contracting (EPC) is an innovative technique that uses cost savings from reduced energy consumption to repay the cost of installing energy efficient and renewable energy conservation measures. For every dollar invested in an EPC, a Public Housing Agency saves two dollars in utility costs. Through EPCs, HUD's efforts have produced $570.8M in projected energy investments including Energy Star equipment and $103.1M in annual guaranteed savings. As a result, approximately 201,871 public housing units have been or are currently being renovated with upgraded energy efficient systems and equipment.
HUD's Hope VI program provides grant funding to revitalize distressed public housing projects. The program encourages applicants to incorporate energy efficiency and sustainable design. Units are built to Energy Star standards and incorporate the use of Energy Star labeled products. In addition, some HOPE VI projects were built using the Green Communities and the Leadership in Environment and Energy Design (LEED) standards. In many local communities, these grants help increase public awareness regarding energy efficiency, Energy Star, other renewable energy systems (e.g., photovoltaic, geothermal), and water efficient products for the home.
Read all of the 2009 Galaxy Award Nominations.
Super Nova Star of Energy Efficiency Award: Aquarium of the Pacific
This award recognizes organizations/companies, learning institutions, state offices, and government programs with less than $150 million in annual revenue for their efforts to promote energy efficiency.
The Aquarium of the Pacific will be presented the 2009 Super Nova Award for the organization's investment in energy and climate conservation practices, and for serving as a leader in educating the community about sustainable activities and energy efficient technologies.
The Aquarium is the first museum in the United States to certify its greenhouse gas emissions with a registry, successfully becoming a Climate Action Leader with the Climate Action Registry. Also, the Aquarium has had no net increase of kWh usage despite a consistent increase in visitors. Efficient lighting systems, co-generation insulating life support systems, high efficiency pool pumps, and leading edge operating procedures have been installed to comply with ongoing energy initiatives that help serve the Aquarium's current 1.4 million annual visitors.
In 2008, the Aquarium inaugurated a new environmental classroom, the city's first LEED platinum certified building. The classroom uses solar power, a green roof, and a rainwater capture system among other energy and water efficiencies. The Aquarium is committed to achieving LEED platinum or gold certification for all future projects.
The museum's Green Team, a staff committee that organizes environmentally friendly activities such as street clean ups and Earth Day festivals, demonstrates resource management concepts within the community.
Read all of the 2009 Super Nova Award Nominations.
Andromeda Star of Energy Efficiency Award: Warren County Public School System, KY
This award recognizes organizations/companies, learning institutions, state offices, and government programs with less than $10 million in annual revenue for their efforts to promote energy efficiency.
Warren County Public Schools (WCPS) will receive this year's Andromeda award in recognition of their outstanding commitment to reduce energy use in their facilities, as well as educating students on the benefits of energy efficiency.
In 2003, WCPS adopted an energy conservation and management program involving every building in the school district. In the past five years, WCPS has avoided costs of more than $4 million, reducing consumption by more than 28 percent. Currently, the school district has four buildings with Energy Star certification.
WCPS recently began building the nation's first net zero energy public school. By implementing innovative energy saving strategies—ICF high performance envelope, active daylight, decentralized geothermal HVAC, and Duke Energy Green Test Kitchen strategies—the building is projected to save an estimated $233,744 annually.
The school district also focuses on developing daily curriculum for students that demonstrates energy efficiency in action. Elementary school interior design is themed to offer the students the opportunity for interactive learning in geothermal, solar, water conservation, and recycling principles.
Read all of the 2009 Andromeda Award Nominations.
I-Star of Energy Efficiency Award: The National Housing Commission and the National Fund for Housing, Mexico
The international star of energy efficiency award recognizes the outstanding contributions to energy efficiency achieved through special projects or activities overseas that are led by public or private organizations/companies, learning institutions or government agencies based outside of the U.S. territories
The National Housing Commission (CONAVI) and the National Fund for Housing (INFONAVIT) Mexico will be awarded with the International Star of Energy Efficiency award for their promotion of energy efficiency through low-income housing programs.
The National Housing Commission (CONAVI) is currently leading Mexico's 2007-2012 national housing program titled "Towards a Sustainable Housing Development." CONAVI has served as a leader in initiating Mexico's energy efficient housing policies. The Commission's main areas of work are: restructuring of the national regulatory framework; research and development of energy-efficient technology; system indicators; certification schemes and financial incentives; and the contribution to mitigating the effects of climate change.
As the largest originator of residential mortgages in Mexico, INFONAVIT authorized a credit scheme called "Green Mortgage" in response to the recommendations of the General Assembly. The main purpose of the Green Loan is to promote environmentally friendly strategies that increase the supply and availability of energy-efficient housing and support the National Strategy for Climate Change. In 2008, INFONAVIT signed an agreement with key energy efficiency agencies that launched the "Green Mortgage" program at the national level.
Read all of the 2009 I-Star Award Nominations.
Innovative Star of Energy Efficiency Award: 3M Company
The Innovative Star award recognizes an emerging technology or service that has the potential to transform a sector of the energy efficiency market but which, given the early stage of the innovation, has yet to generate proven savings.
3M Company's Optical Systems Division is being presented with this year's Innovative award for creating the Vikuiti Dual Brightness Enhancement Film (DFEF), the world's first brightness enhancement film and reflective polarizer. The Vikuiti DBEF is a revolutionary, multilayer reflective polarizer that effectively recycles S-wave light normally absorbed by the polarizer inside LCD TVs and monitors. Recycling this light maximizes the brightness of LCDs and reduces the number of watts required to operate TVs and monitors.
Using Vikuiti DBEF film allows manufactures to eliminate four or more bulbs in most LCD TVs, while simultaneously improving backlight efficiency by 32 to 50 percent, and increasing overall energy efficiency of LCD TVs by 20 to 30 percent. Vikuiti DBEF has the potential to save as much as 101.7 billion kWh of energy in LCD TV's sold between 2006 and 2011.
Read all of the 2009 Innovative Star Award Nominations.
A Complete List of Past Award Winners
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