18 days left for businesses to expose themselves

Release from the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority (EECA)

Monday 2 February 2004

18 days left for businesses to expose themselves

New Zealand businesses and community organisations who have demonstrated innovation and brilliant thinking in energy efficiency and renewable energy projects have only 18 days left to ensure they are exposed in the EnergyWise Awards.

The Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority (EECA) is encouraging organisations to expose their thinking by entering the 2004 EnergyWise Awards. Entries close on 20 February.

EECA Chief Executive Heather Staley says the Awards are a celebration of progress towards New Zealand's targets of a 20 percent improvement in energy efficiency and a 22% increase in renewable energy consumed by 2012. "The Awards profile the champions of energy efficiency and renewable fuels, and recognise achievements in using sustainable energy systems."

Previous award winners include The Warehouse, who used efficiency to cut $2 million from their annual energy bill, Christchurch based Connexionz Ltd for their real-time electronic bus timetables, and Sealord, who reduced their energy bill by 6.5 percent at the same time that processing output increased by 7.5 percent. The 2002 Supreme Award winner was the Christchurch City Council who achieved total energy savings of $12.2 million since 1995.

Now in their seventh year, the EnergyWise Awards are open to businesses, community organisations and individual energy managers. There are ten categories ranging from industrial/manufacturing, which is aimed at light and heavy manufacturing and processes, to a transport award, for a travel demand management or fleet management initiative.

The biennial EnergyWise Awards are the biggest celebratory event for the energy sector. Category sponsors include Genesis, Meridian, BP, Contact Energy, Transpower and the Energy Management Association. This year's awards will be held in Auckland on Wednesday 31 March. Entry forms are available on www.energywise.org.nz or by contacting the awards coordinator on 0800 358 676.

Ms Staley says EECA is implementing the National Energy Efficiency and Conservation Strategy through improving energy choices. For more information on EECA and the EnergyWise Awards visit www.energywise.org.nz

ENDS

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