Midwest Energy Efficiency Leaders Recognized for Groundbreaking Achievements

CHICAGO, Jan. 14, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- The eight winners of the Midwest Energy Efficiency Alliance's (MEEA) 2011 Inspiring Efficiency Awards are industry leaders who have delivered innovative advancements in energy efficiency. Projects range from an eBay-like online reverse auction for energy efficiency grants to a program that helped Detroit's small, independent grocers reduce their energy costs while improving access to fresh produce for the city's residents.

This year's winners were honored at the Inspiring Efficiency Awards Dinner and Gala on Thursday, January 13, 2011, during MEEA's ninth annual Midwest Energy Solutions Conference (www.meeaconference.org).  The three-day conference, which runs through today at the InterContinental Chicago, is the largest of its kind in the Midwest.  It brings together a broad range of private- and public-sector thought leaders in energy strategy, policy, technology and program design and implementation.

The Inspiring Efficiency Awards competition recognizes Midwest energy efficiency leaders in five categories: Leadership, Education, Impact, Innovation and Marketing.  The Inspiring Efficiency Chairman's Award is also bestowed each year to a person who has exhibited exemplary leadership for energy efficiency in the Midwest and support of MEEA.

Award recipients for 2011 included:

• Chairman's Award: The Weidt Group Principal David Eijadi, for his leadership and outstanding commitment to the growth of MEEA and the advancement of energy efficiency in the Midwest. David is a former Chair of MEEA's Board of Directors and has been instrumental in guiding MEEA through substantial growth over the last eight years.
• Leadership Award: Michigan Public Service Commissioner Monica Martinez, for driving the passage of Michigan's Clean, Renewable and Efficient Energy Act, spearheading statewide asymmetrical decoupling efforts and expanding Michigan's Low Income and Energy Efficient Fund.
• Education Award: The Energy Center of Wisconsin, for pioneering the use of rich media to connect participants to online energy efficiency education programs, breaking through traditional training barriers such as cost, time and travel.
• Impact Award: Commonwealth Edison, for its retro-commissioning program, which reduces energy consumption in large buildings and systems in a cost-effective manner by optimizing use of existing equipment rather than encouraging capital investment. Through the program's first two years, nearly 9 million Kilowatt hours were saved through the participation of 17 facilities.
• Innovation Awards:
  • DTE Energy, for its successful Independent Grocers Incentive Program, which helped independent grocers reduce their energy costs while also improving access to fresh produce for Detroit residents.  
  • Missouri Department of Natural Resources, for its Best Price Energy Efficiency Program, which used a first-of-its-kind live online reverse auction to award $3 million in American Reinvestment and Recovery Act-funded energy efficiency grants to businesses.
• Marketing Awards:
  • Prairie Power, Inc., for its innovative energy efficiency display that engages homeowners by identifying low-cost actions they can take to reduce their energy costs.
  • Xcel Energy, for its Process Efficiency program, which provides holistic energy efficiency solutions to its large industrial customers and has generated more than 95 Gigawatt hours of electric savings and 150,000 Dekatherms of natural gas savings since its launch in 2007.

More information about the Inspiring Efficiency Awards and this year's recipients can be found at www.meeaconference.org.

Editor's Note: If you'd like more information about any of the panel discussions or would like to arrange interviews with conference presenters or MEEA representatives, contact Tim Frisbie at [email protected] or 312-251-9913.

About Midwest Energy Efficiency Alliance – The Source on Energy Efficiency

The Midwest Energy Efficiency Alliance (www.mwalliance.org) is a collaborative network advancing energy efficiency in the Midwest to support sustainable economic development and environmental preservation.  MEEA bridges the gap between policy adoption and program implementation.

MEEA promotes the market transformation of energy efficiency technologies, processes and best practices within a 13-state area, through policy advocacy, program design and facilitation and piloting of energy technologies. Energy efficiency is the critical first step in meeting our nation's myriad energy challenges due to low entry costs, proven and emerging technologies, ease of implementation, fast return on investment and measurable results.

Through our diverse network of members and regional allies, MEEA possesses the practical experience and informed vision to effect positive change today by supporting the region's stakeholders to achieve their efficiency goals for the future.

SOURCE Midwest Energy Efficiency Alliance