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Additional 2009 ‘Stars of Energy Efficiency’ Include Governor,
Tech Company, Aquarium, School District, Housing Depts.
For Immediate Release
For More Information
Washington, D.C., July 2009 – Alliance to Save Energy honorary Board Chair Sen. Mark Pryor (D-Ark.) has selected Energy Secretary Stephen Chu to receive the Chairman’s Award at the Alliance’s 2009 Evening with the Stars of Energy Efficiency September awards dinner.
Secretary Chu joins an already stellar roster of award winners:
- Gov. Deval Patrick of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts
- 3M Company
- U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)
- Mexico’s National Housing Commission (CONAVI) and National Fund for Housing (INFONAVIT)
- Aquarium of the Pacific
- Warren County, Ky., Public Schools
“The Alliance to Save Energy congratulates the winners for their vision, commitment, and significant contributions to the advancement of energy efficiency,” said Alliance President Kateri Callahan. “With an ever-increasing global demand for energy and ever-increasing awareness of the dangers of climate change, there has never been a greater time to pause and recognize the efforts of those working to save energy, money, and the planet.”
Awards will be presented at the Alliance’s 17th annual Evening with the Stars of Energy Efficiency black-tie awards dinner on Thursday, September 17, at the historic Andrew W. Mellon Auditorium in Washington, D.C.
The Charles H. Percy Award for Public Service is the Alliance’s most prestigious award and is presented to an individual in recognition of outstanding public service and/or a lifetime commitment to energy efficiency. Since taking office in 2007, Gov. Patrick has worked with legislative leaders to pass five landmark pieces of energy and environmental legislation that have made Massachusetts a national leader in promoting energy efficiency and renewable energy to reduce energy costs and ensure energy security.
Signing Massachusetts on to the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI), Patrick instituted a policy of full auctioning of power plant emission allowances and committing the proceeds to energy-efficiency measures. He initiated a Zero Net Energy Buildings Task Force and, in 2007, a Leading By Example Executive Order that directs state agencies to reduce their energy use and greenhouse gas emissions by 20 percent by Fiscal Year 2012 and 35 percent by Fiscal Year 2020.
Chairman’s Award – 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.”
Innovative Star of Energy Efficiency Award -- 3M Company’s Optical Systems Division created the revolutionary Vikuiti Dual Brightness Enhancement Film (DBEF), the world’s first brightness enhancement film and reflective polarizer. By recycling S-wave light normally absorbed by the polarizer inside LCD TVs and monitors, it maximizes the brightness of LCDs and reduces the number of watts required to operate TVs and monitors.
Using Vikuiti DBEF film allows manufacturers to eliminate four or more bulbs in most LCD TVs, while simultaneously improving backlight efficiency by 32 to 50 percent and increasing the overall energy efficiency of LCD TVs by 20 to 30 percent. The film has the potential to save as much as 101.7 billion kilowatt-hours of energy in LCD TVs sold between 2006 and 2011.
Galaxy Star of Energy Efficiency – The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) Energy Performance Contracting (EPC) employs an innovative technique that uses savings from reduced energy consumption to repay the cost of installing energy efficiency and renewable energy measures. Through EPCs, HUD has invested $570.8 million in upgraded energy-efficient systems and equipment, including Energy Star equipment, in approximately 201,871 public housing units to save $103.1 million annually on energy costs.
HUD’s Hope VI program provides grants to revitalize distressed public housing projects and encourages applicants to incorporate energy efficiency and sustainable design. Units are built to Energy Star standards and incorporate the use of Energy Star qualified products. In addition, some HOPE VI projects were built using the Green Communities and LEED (Leadership in Environment and Energy Design) standards.
I-Star Award for Energy Efficiency – Mexico’s National Housing Commission (CONAVI) and National Fund for Housing (INFONAVIT) promote energy efficiency through low-income housing programs. CONAVI is currently leading Mexico’s 2007-2012 national housing program, Towards a Sustainable Housing Development, and is a leader in initiating Mexico’s energy efficiency policies for housing. The commission’s main areas of work are restructuring the national regulatory framework; research and development of energy-efficient technology; certification procedures and financial incentives; and mitigating the effects of climate change.
As the largest originator of residential mortgages in Mexico, INFONAVIT authorized a credit system called Green Mortgage in response to the recommendations of the General Assembly 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.
Super Nova Star of Energy Efficiency – The Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach, Calif., is the nation’s first museum to certify its greenhouse gas emissions with a registry, successfully becoming a Climate Action Leader with the California Climate Action Registry. Due to its energy efficiency initiatives, the aquarium has not seen a net increase of kilowatt-hour usage since 2002, despite a consistent increase in visitors. Energy efficiency measures have included efficient lighting systems and high efficiency pool pumps.
In 2008, the aquarium inaugurated a new environmental classroom, the city’s first LEED platinum-certified facility. The classroom uses solar power, a green roof, and a rainwater capture system, among other energy- and water-saving elements.
Andromeda Star of Energy Efficiency -- In 2003, Warren County Public Schools (WCPS) adopted an energy conservation and management program involving every building in the school district. As a result, during the past five years, WCPS has avoided costs of more than $4 million by reducing energy consumption by more than 28 percent. Currently, the school district has four buildings with Energy Star certification. The school district also focuses on developing daily curriculum material demonstrating energy efficiency in action.
WCPS recently began building the nation’s first net zero energy public school. By implementing innovative energy-saving measures, including high performance insulated concrete form envelope, active daylight, decentralized geothermal HVAC, and green kitchen strategies, it is projected to save an estimated $233,744 annually.
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