Eligibility

We’re looking for leading examples of energy efficiency programs for all types of customers (residential, commercial, industrial, agricultural) and end-uses. The only constraint is that they must be “utility sector” energy efficiency programs (i.e., funded by customers through utility rates, public benefits charges, or other similar utility revenue mechanisms). The programs can be administered by utilities, government agencies, or “third party” independent administrators. Both electric and natural gas programs are eligible. Programs recognized in ACEEE’s 2003 and 2008 reviews are eligible for this new review. In these cases, program data and results need to be updated to reflect the latest information available.

Organizations may only nominate themselves for a maximum of three programs each.

[Note: we are NOT seeking nominations for “load management” or “demand response” programs, with one exception: we are interested in “integrated” programs where broader energy efficiency measures and savings are incorporated as an explicit priority in the program design in addition to load management. Inclusion of integrated, significant energy efficiency measures and savings (not just peak reduction) also need to be well documented.]

Selection Criteria

The primary selection criteria for recognition by ACEEE are:

• Direct Energy Savings: Demonstrated ability of the program to deliver significant immediate and long-term kWh (and/or therm) savings from energy efficiency.
• Market Impacts: Demonstrated ability of the program to produce desirable and lasting improvements in the energy efficiency characteristics and performance of the targeted market.
• Cost Effectiveness: Demonstrated ability to yield significant energy savings and related benefits relative to the costs of the program.
• Customer Service and Satisfaction: High quality of services available and provided to customers participating in programs.
• Innovation: Incorporation of particularly innovative measures, program designs, and/or implementation techniques that have achieved positive near-term results and promise significant future impacts.
• Transferability:  Well documented programs with characteristics amenable to replicating the program design in other similar settings.

Additional factors that may be regarded favorably include: success in serving “hard to reach” target populations; success in achieving “deep” energy savings by participants; and the ability to leverage significant customer investments in energy efficiency.

To demonstrate achievement according to the various  criteria, it is advantageous that nominated programs have used good quality ex post evaluation and verification methodologies to document savings impacts, market effects and other results achieved by the program.

How to Nominate a Program

To nominate a program, ACEEE asks that you complete an online nomination form here. Hard copy/paper nominations will generally not be accepted without permission. The review and selection process will consist of two phases: (1) an initial screening of nominated programs to identify leading candidates, and (2) a more in-depth review of these candidate programs; in this 2^nd phase ACEEE is likely to request supplemental data and information on the programs, such as evaluation reports or other documentation. An expert panel (ACEEE staff plus external experts) will review the nominations and select the final set of programs.

Nominations due October 5, 2012.

For additional information, please contact:
Seth Nowak
snowak@aceee.org
608-256-9155

or

Dan York
dwyork@aceee.org
608-243-1123

Please note: ACEEE will confirm receipt of all nominations. If you do not receive a confirmation within one week of your submission, please call Seth Nowak at the above number.

Please feel free to distribute this invitation widely. Self-nominations are perfectly acceptable (a limit of 3 self-nominations per organization) All nominations will be kept confidential unless otherwise requested. The results of ACEEE’s second national review of exemplary programs can be found here: http://www.aceee.org/research-report/u081.

Past awardees were recognized for work to advance principles of green chemistry into chemical design, manufacture or use, or promotion activities that support or implement those technologies.

The awards are open to individuals, groups and organizations in Michigan, both nonprofit and for-profit, including academia, educators, nonprofit advocacy groups and industry.

To learn more about Michigan’s green chemistry program or obtain a nomination packet for the Governor’s award, go to www.michigan.gov/greenchemistry.

Entries must be sent by Aug. 5. Awards are presented during the 2011 Michigan Green Chemistry and Engineering Conference. This year’s conference: “Advancing Innovation for a Sustainable Future,” is scheduled Oct. 27 at the University of Michigan’s North Campus Research Complex in Ann Arbor.

For more information, call the DEQ Environmental Assistance Center at 800‑662-9278.

The free seminar will begin at 9 a.m. with a presentation from Praveen Gupta, an internationally renowned thought leader in the field of excellence and innovation.  Praveen is founding President of Accelper Consulting engaged in helping companies benefit from excellence and innovation in achieving their business objectives including sustainability.  He believes that sloppy designs utilizing unnecessary resources cause excessive waste, and lack of leadership in developing environment friendly innovative solutions has caused the sustainability fire to blaze.

Praveen has taught professional seminars world over for about 20 years. He has consulted with over 100 corporations in the areas of excellence and innovation. He has taught at DePaul University, the Illinois Institute of Technology, and will launch a class at the University of Illinois, Chicago this spring. Praveen has authored several books.

Following Praveen’s remarks, a panel of speakers will discuss energy assistance programs that are available to organizations and homeowners. The panel speakers include:

• Kristin Chalifoux – Smart Energy Design Assistance Center (SEDAC)
• Steve Baab – ComEd
• Carol Kulek – Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO)
• Bob Romo – Illinois Clean Energy Community Foundation
• Todd Rusk – IL Sustainable Technology Center
• Richard Reese – IL Environmental Protection Agency
• Cheryl Miller – Ameren Illinois

Panelists will give brief remarks about their program and then a panel discussion will follow.  Questions also will be taken from the audience.

While the seminar is free, participants must register.  To register, go to http://www.istc.illinois.edu/info/govs_awards_registration.cfm .

The morning seminar is in connection with the Governor’s Sustainability Award program.  Twenty seven organizations will be presented with Sustainability Awards at a luncheon for projects to help the environment and the economy.  The luncheon and award presentation is by invitation only.

ISTC has presented the Governor’s Awards since 1987.  ISTC is a division of the Institute of Natural Resource Sustainability at the University of Illinois.

Jeff Burke presents P2 Champion awards to Dr. Tim Lindsey & Phil Kaplan.

Two people from the Great Lakes region were honored recently as “Pollution Prevention Champions” by the National Pollution Prevention Roundtable. Jeff Burke, NPPR Executive Director, presented the MVP2 awards to Tim Lindsey, Associate Director of the Illinois Sustainable Technology Center, and Phil Kaplan, recently retired P2 Coordinator for EPA Region 5. They were honored for their leadership and innovation in pollution prevention programs.

Congratulations to both Tim and Phil for this well-deserved recognition!

The 2010 Most Valuable Pollution Prevention (MVP2) awards presented by the National Pollution Prevention Roundtable (NPPR) celebrate the successes of innovators in the areas of pollution prevention and sustainability. These prestigious awards were presented recently at a ceremony in Washington, DC.  ISTC is a unit of the Institute of Natural Resource Sustainability at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

Tim Lindsey, Associate Director at ISTC; Manohar Kulkarni, ISTC Director; William Bullock, University of Illinois and academic leader of SEI; and Willie Cade, owner of PC Rebuilders and Recyclers and business liaison for SEI.

The MVP2 program award went to the SEI, a consortium dedicated to the development and implementation of a more sustainable system for designing, producing, and remanufacturing electronic devices.  Members of the consortium include academia, non-profit organizations, government agencies, manufacturers, designers, refurbishers and recyclers. Specific elements of the SEI include programs for research, education, data management and technical assistance. SEI conducts collaborative research; facilitates networking and information exchange among participants; promotes technology diffusion via demonstration projects; and provides forums for the discussion of policy and legislation.

Electronic waste is a growing national problem. Americans own some 3 billion electronic products. As new products are purchased, unused products are stored or discarded at alarming rates. About two-thirds of these electronic devices removed from service were still in working order; only about 15% of this material is recycled while the rest is land filled. The existing system for managing E-waste is generally not sustainable; mechanisms for collecting, sorting, reuse, refurbishing, repairing, and remanufacturing are not well developed and/or implemented. Problems of obsolescence, collection, management, and marketing need to be addressed. These are the issues tackled by the SEI.

The SEI last year was partially funded by the EPA as part of the Great Lakes Regional Pollution Prevention Roundtable (GLRPPR) program.

Dr. Lindsey’s award was for being a P2 Champion.  This award celebrates an individual whose work has an outstanding impact on implementing pollution prevention.  Lindsey is the ISTC Associate Director and has headed the Technical Assistance Program since 1991. He supervises a staff of engineers and scientists that perform research and assist with implementation of innovative technologies that improve sustainability.  Areas of focus for Dr. Lindsey’s program include:  pollution prevention, green business, energy efficiency, alternative energy, carbon foot-printing, water foot-printing, environmental cost analysis, life cycle analysis, and systems engineering.

Jeff Burke, Executive Director of the National Pollution Prevention Roundtable congratulates Tim Lindsey for his selection as a P2 Champion.

Lindsey has long been a P2 visionary.  Processes and plans that he developed have become standard operational procedures for P2 professionals throughout the nation. He is best known for his pioneering work in developing  Accelerated Diffusion of Pollution Prevention Technologies (ADOP²T), a model for technology diffusion that speeds the transfer of better environmental technologies and processes from the bench to the plant floor. Lindsey is the driving force behind the SEI.  He also has been the leader in ISTC’s effort to promote and improve biofuels.  As a strong believer in information diffusion, Lindsey has spearheaded seminars and information opportunities.  In recent years, Lindsey has applied his expertise and passion to address sustainability problems in Haiti.  He has worked with local farmers and non-government organizations to set up biodiesel processors and to train Haitians in producing a crop, processing it, and operating reactors to produce a quality fuel.

The 2010 MVP2 recipients represent a broad range of backgrounds, including federal government agencies, academia, industries, non-profits, and individuals that have demonstrated significant accomplishments in pollution prevention

Jeffrey Burke, Executive Director of NPPR, stated, “These organizations have clearly demonstrated that pollution prevention is beneficial to both the environment and the economy. They are being recognized for their leadership and commitment to promoting a sustainable future.”  The MVP2 awards demonstrate how organizations can become more competitive, form partnerships, realize cost savings, and enhance environmental quality all at the same time.

For more information, please contact Bob Iverson.

Please be sure to review the application details carefully!  The awards criteria has been updated to better reflect the variety of sustainable activities and projects that applicants may have completed.

The application deadline is close of business on May 21, 2010.  Applications will only be accepted on-line.

The award ceremony will be held in Champaign.  A final date has not yet been set, however we are targeting the second half of October 2010.

Since 1987, ISTC has presented Governors awards to organizations in Illinois that have demonstrated a commitment to environmental excellence through outstanding and innovative sustainability practices. Any Illinois public or private organization is eligible to apply for an award. Organizations who are winning for the first time receive the Sustainability Award. Those organizations that have won in past years and are continuing their environmental efforts are awarded a Continuous Improvement Award.

“These businesses and organizations have shown that it is possible to create and maintain conditions under which people and nature can exist in productive harmony, and fulfill the social and economic requirements of present and future generations,” said John C. Marlin, ISTC Acting Director.

The 2009 award winners are listed below. Information on the Governor’s Sustainability Awards program and technical assistance on pollution prevention and energy efficiency are available from the Illinois Sustainable Technology Center, One Hazelwood Drive, Champaign, IL 61820, phone 217-333-8940, http://www.istc.illinois.edu/.

2009 Governor’s Sustainability Award winners

First time winners

Ace Hardware Paint Division—Chicago Heights

Ace Hardware Paint Division—Matteson

Allied Waste Services—Chicago

AMFOTEK—Tinley Park

Ball Corporation—Danville

Central Can Company—Chicago

ComEd—Oakbrook Terrace

GE Healthcare IT—Cary

Guardian West—Urbana

Jesse Brown VA Medical Center—Chicago

Jet Lithocolor, Inc.—Downers Grove

Kankakee Community College—Kankakee

Lions Park Elementary School—Mount Prospect

McDonald’s Corporation—Oak Brook

McHenry County Schools Environmental Education Program—Woodstock

MRC Polymers Inc.—Chicago

Mueller Company—Decatur

Original Smith Printing—Bloomington

Rhodia, Inc.—Blue Island

Vaughan and Bushnell Manufacturing Company—Bushnell

Village of Orland Park—Orland Park

WCIA Channel 3—Champaign

Organizations recognized for Continuous Improvement

Abbott—Abbott Park

Abbott—North Chicago

Ball Corporation—Elgin

Caterpillar Inc. Engine Center—Mossville

Cintas—Romeoville

Department of Aviation O’Hare Modernization Program—Chicago

Consolidated Printing Company—Chicago

Continental Tire North America—Mount Vernon

Electro-Motive Diesel, Inc.—LaGrange

Frigel North America—East Dundee

Harris Corporation – Broadcast Communications Division—Quincy

Hitachi Metals Automotive Components USA, LLC—Effingham

Illinois Correctional Industries—Menard

Navistar, Inc—Melrose Park

NOW Foods, Inc.—Bloomingdale

PortionPac Chemical Corporation—Chicago

Organized by the Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) in 1996, the purpose of P4P2 is to assist industry in sharing pollution prevention successes and to advise IDEM on pollution prevention policy and programs. The Partners represent industry, government, academia and environmental organizations interested in advancing pollution prevention in Indiana, as well as the financial and environmental benefits P2 projects can bring.

According to the program website, there are currently 55 Partners, many of which have received the Indiana Governor’s Award for Environmental Excellence. The benefits of being a Partner include, among other things, exchanging information on P2 technologies and successes with your peers, being recognized statewide for your P2 efforts and potentially having your P2 projects promoted in IDEM publications.

If you are interested in applying for membership to P4P2, or would like more information, contact IDEM’s Office of Pollution Prevention & Technical Assistance at 800-988-7901 or 317-233-6662. Becoming a member involves committing to the Partners Pledge. New Partners are inducted at quarterly meetings, and Partners are required to complete the annual recertification to share P2 success stories and data.

Check out the Partners Activity page for copies of reports and presentations given at quarterly meetings.  Another major activity for the  Partners is the organization of the Annual Pollution Prevention Conference and Trade Show.

“These businesses are models for other Hoosier companies and show that sound environmental management is good for business,” said IDEM Commissioner Thomas Easterly. “ESP members voluntarily eliminate waste, preserve resources and protect Hoosiers and the environment. They deserve recognition for going beyond the basic requirements of the law.”

This is the third year of the ESP program, and there are 45 members participating in this initiative. ESP’s newest members include:

Frito-Lay, Inc., Frankfort, Clinton County

Frito-Lay, Inc. has agreed to install water meters at each process point and implement monitoring activities and process controls to optimize water use, thus reducing water use by 82,765,244 gallons by the end of 2009.

Guardian Automotive Trim, Inc., Evansville, Vanderburgh County

Guardian Automotive Trim, Inc. is committed to reducing natural gas usage in the plating process boiler by 10 percent in its first year of membership as a result of pre-heating the day tank that returns water to the boiler and reducing the amount of time that water has to cool down, thus maintaining a more consistent water temperature.

Nishikawa Standard Company, LLC – Bremen Facility, Marshall County

Nishikawa Standard Company, LLC – Bremen Facility is committed to reducing its solid waste during its first year of membership by 8,500 pounds by replacing 23 automated paper towel dispensers with 19 highly-efficient electric hand dryers in an effort to eliminate landfill contributions.

NOF Jasper 11th Avenue, Jasper, Dubois County

NOF Jasper 11th Avenue has agreed to increase the amount it recycles by 26,920 pounds by the end of 2009 with the creation of a new training program for employees and implementing 5S principles to make separating recyclables more visual for employees.

NOF Santa Claus, Santa Claus, Spencer County

NOF Santa Claus has agreed to increase the amount it recycles by 15,631 pounds by the end of 2009 with the creation of a new training program for employees and implementing 5S principles to make separating recyclables more visual for employees.

Ottenweller Company, Inc., Fort Wayne, Allen County

Ottenweller Company, Inc. is committed to reducing the amount of propane used in its forklifts by 34,051 pounds, or 30 percent, by improving staging methods and using jacks and carts.

SAMTEC, Incorporated, New Albany, Floyd County

SAMTEC, Incorporated has agreed to involve all of its employees in reducing their environmental impact by recycling 1,000 pounds of aluminum cans and 1,500 pounds of plastic bottles in the employee cafeteria by the end of 2009.

Subaru of Indiana Automotive, Inc., Lafayette, Tippecanoe County

Subaru of Indiana Automotive, Inc. is committed to replacing a solvent-borne top coat with a water-borne top coat reducing volatile organic compounds by 202,287 pounds by the end of 2009.

To become an ESP member, a business must maintain an exemplary compliance record, certify that it has adopted and implemented an approved environmental management system, and commit to specific measures for continued improvement in its environmental performance.

ESP members qualify for expedited permit review, flexibility in permitting, reduced reporting frequencies, and coordination of compliance inspections. To maintain ESP membership, companies must report on their environmental initiatives every year and reapply for ESP membership every three years.