WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. - The American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE) named three Champions of Energy Efficiency at its Summer Study on Energy Efficiency in Industry. Presented to those in the industrial sector, the awards recognize leadership and accomplishment in the area of energy efficiency. Winners were selected based on demonstrated excellence in program implementation, leadership, research and development, energy policy, private sector initiatives, and international initiatives.

The 2007 winners are:

• Byron Lloyd & Mark Hamann, Industrial Leadership - Through a partnership between the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) and ComEd, Byron Lloyd & Mark Hamann were instrumental in enhancing the use of Envinta’s One-2-Five software to create a holistic energy efficiency evaluation tool. Their joint effort resulted in a new evaluation and implementation product utilizing the One-2-Five software tool, the Manufacturing Energy Efficiency Program (MEEP). Participants in MEEP can pursue energy efficiency opportunities by following an ‘Action Plan.’ This plan utilizes the technical expertise of ComEd engineers and financial assistance of DCEO to effectively identify and ultimately implement energy-saving opportunities. ACEEE said DCEO and ComEd are providing an extremely useful tool to gain valuable energy savings in industry.

• David Zepponi, Industrial Leadership - As president of the Northwest Food Processors Association, Zepponi has implemented a number of projects to develop continued energy efficiency gains in the food processing industry. Among these projects, Zepponi has created, populated, and maintained an informative database of best practices for the food processing industry. These best practices include information on system optimization; best-available commercial technologies; energy- and water-saving measures; and other leading-edge energy and environment technologies. Zepponi also developed the Western U.S. Food-Processing Industry Resource Efficiency Initiative (FIRE), a collaboration of many entities including the Oregon Department of Energy, Washington State University, and California League of Food Processors, with the goal of increasing energy and water use efficiency. According to ACEEE, Zepponi’s efforts have provided a valuable resource of energy efficiency information and guidance for the food processing industry.

• United Technologies Corp., Implementation & Deployment - As a diversified company with products ranging from home heating and air conditioning to aerospace and helicopters, United Technologies Corp. (UTC) has met impressive energy efficiency goals, noted ACEEE. UTC has met a 19 percent reduction in energy consumption, a 49 percent reduction in water consumption, and a 44 percent reduction in air emissions from 1997-2006. As part of its latest set of environmental targets, UTC has set a goal to reduce absolute greenhouse gas emissions by 12 percent over the next four years and will invest $100 million toward cogeneration and energy conservation projects. UTC is a founding member of the Pew Center on Global Climate Change and the U.S. Green Building Council, and is a member of the World Business Council for Sustainable Development.

The 2007 winners were nominated by their peers and selected by a committee of ACEEE’s board of directors. ACEEE received 23 nominations for this year’s awards. Read about past years' ACEEE Champions of Energy Efficiency at www.aceee.org/about/awards.htm.

Publication date: 08/06/2007