National Energy Efficiency Awards 2017

PRESS RELEASE

Corporate leadership, individual excellence and energy efficiency innovation have been recognised and awarded at the National Energy Efficiency Awards 2017.

Hosted by the Energy Efficiency Council (EEC), the awards were announced at the National Energy Efficiency Conference 2017 Gala Dinner in Melbourne last night.

The following winners represent the very best in industrial, commercial and government efficiency, demand response and cogeneration:

Best Industrial Energy Efficiency Project 2017
Winner: Toll – Nike Energy Efficiency Upgrade
The Nike warehouse was upgraded as part of Toll’s Smarter Green program. This project included the rewiring and reprogramming of each conveyor section to automatically identify product/cartons in the system adding new barcode scanners and conveyor blade stops. It is estimated the productivity and throughput efficiency of the conveyor system increased by 25%, as well as delivering energy savings of 18%. The project also saw a redesign of the lighting for the site, replacing more than 1300 fittings with LED technology including highbays, ailse bays and in rack luminaires.

Best Innovation in Energy Efficiency 2017
Winner: MATRIXX® – an intelligent LED lighting platform
Vivid Industrial has developed an intelligent, energy efficient, lighting and service solution for the industrial and commercial markets. The unique Australian designed and manufactured, MATRIXX® technology has demonstrated its capability as a highly effective “industrial internet of things” lighting platform, consistently generating benchmarked energy savings in excess of 80%, significantly reducing energy cost and life-cycle environmental impact.

Best Energy Savings Program 2017
Winner: Victorian Government – Victorian Energy Upgrades
Victorian Energy Upgrades is a Victorian Government program providing households and businesses with access to discounted energy-saving products and upgrades through accredited providers. Formerly known as the Victorian Energy Efficiency Target (VEET) scheme, it is Australia’s largest and longest-running energy efficiency obligation scheme. In 2017, energy retailers are being asked to help reduce Victoria’s greenhouse gas emissions by 5.9 million tonnes through energy efficiency. The target increases each year and will be 6.5 million tonnes in 2020.

Highly commended: NSW Government –  Energy Saver for Business

Best Commercial Building Energy Efficiency Project 2017
Winner: Enhancing energy efficiency at the MCG
Melbourne Cricket Club partnered with Siemens to deliver an innovative Energy Performance Contract (EPC) to improve the energy efficiency of the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) – the largest stadium in the Southern Hemisphere. During 2014-2015, the EPC drove the upgrade of existing practices as well as the installation of innovative efficiency systems at the stadium. Specific objectives were to cut water use at the ground by 5 per cent, reduce CO2 equivalent carbon emissions by 19 per cent annually and result in a utility cost saving of 20 per cent each year. The work the MCC and Siemens have undertaken has delivered tangible sustainability results that have greatly exceeded expectations and cemented the MCG’s status as one of the most energy efficient and environmentally friendly stadiums in the world.

Leading Energy User 2017 – Category proudly supported by the Energy Users Association of Australia
Winner: Unity Water
Providing customers with high quality, safe and reliable water and sewerage collection and treatment services demands a great deal of energy-hungry pumping and Unity Water’s annual cost of electricity is second only to that of staff. The program was designed to bank sustainable year-on-year energy savings and to foster change across the business, making energy-efficient operation a part of business-as-usual, and reducing Unity Water’s overall electricity bill by 19% by June 2018.

Best Residential Energy Efficiency Project 2017
Winner: Switch Your Thinking
Switch Your Thinking is a local government energy efficiency program, working with the community to find innovative solutions to electricity problems. Under a unique partnership arrangement, 14 Perth Metro local governments – servicing 1 million residents – have joined the program to deliver energy efficiency initiatives under one collective brand. Rewards for Residents offers the community discounts on energy efficiency technology including solar panels, battery storage, eco-pool pumps and electricity audits.

Best ‘Smart’ Energy Project 2017
Winner: RMIT University – Sustainable Urban Precincts Program
The Sustainable Urban Precincts Program (SUPP) is the largest project of its type in the Southern Hemisphere. The SUPP represents a $128M commitment by RMIT to reduce emissions associated with University operations (25% by 2020) whilst also delivering a step-change in asset management practices and end user experience. The SUPP was delivered across RMIT’s three Melbourne campuses by two Energy Services Companies (ESCOs), Siemens and Honeywell, over a construction period of 3 years and included approximately 60 individual energy and water saving projects.

Young Energy Efficiency Professional 2017
Winner: Jason Harrison, Airmaster
At 27 years of age, Jason Harrison has been a strong advocate for energy efficiency in the HVAC&R Industry with his data driven vision, undertaking research and leading projects. His vision is to move towards a more data driven industry with energy efficiency at the forefront. As well as working full time, he is currently undertaking his thesis on “Design A ‘SMART’ Control strategy algorithm, which is designed to minimise and manage peak electrical loads in occupied buildings to ultimately reduce energy tariffs and maximise energy efficiencies.

Energy Efficiency Champion 2017
Winner: Alan Pears, RMIT
For over 30 years, Alan Pears AM has been teasing out the complexities and absurdities of energy and climate policy in Australia. His foresight and lateral thinking, together with his practical experience, have made him the ‘go to’ authority on energy efficiency since the 1980s. He has advised and assisted people of all political persuasions, governments, policy makers, researchers and non-government organisations, with a generosity of time and spirit and a degree of patience that makes him a national treasure.

Congratulations to all winners the quantity and quality of nominations this year was impressive!