<back to Previous Award Winners

2006 Inspiring Efficiency Awards

September 28th, 2006
Crowne Plaza Chicago O'Hare Hotel
Chicago, IL

Leadership Award  - Diane Munns, Iowa Utilities Board

Diane Munns, Commissioner, Iowa Utilities Board, received the Inspiring Efficiency Leadership Award for making energy efficiency a top priority during her Presidency of the National Association of Regulatory Commissioners and raising the level of energy efficiency in her home state of Iowa.  Her leadership launched the Midwest Natural Gas Initiative, a coordinated effort by eight states to drive down the high cost of energy by decreasing regional demand for natural gas through energy efficiency in both electric and gas sectors.  As co-chair of EPA's National Action Plan for Energy Efficiency, Commission Munns continues to grow in prominence serving our region and the nation as a leader for energy efficiency.

Leadership Award - Robert L. Cowles, WI State Senator

Robert L. Cowles, Wisconsin State Senator representing the second Senate district, received the Inspiring Efficiency Leadership Award for his 24 years of public service and dedication to energy efficiency culminating in landmark legislation to preserve Wisconsin's commitment to energy efficiency and ensure a balanced energy portfolio for the future.  Due in large part to Senator Cowles tireless efforts, Wisconsin Energy Act 141 passed the Wisconsin Senate 32-1 and the Assembly 94-0 in early 2006 despite early, widespread opinion which gave the legislation less than a ten percent chance of acceptance.  Based on a recently commissioned study of the achievable potential for energy efficiency and renewable energy in Wisconsin, Energy Act 141 will deliver approximately 50 megawatts of reduced energy demand.  It is estimated that the energy saved from Energy Act 141 will defer the building of one average-sized power plant and save the amount of gas used by 40,000 homes.

Education Award - Missouri Botanical Garden's EarthWays Center

Missouri Botanical Garden, EarthWays Center received the Inspiring Efficiency Education Award for Missouri Schools Going Solar, an education program that gives K-12 students hands-on experience with photovoltaic (PV) technology and energy education that extends beyond the classroom.  This program installs photovoltaic panel (PV) modules or arrays on school grounds and provides energy education meeting state-mandated science curriculum requirements.  Missouri teachers receive important professional development opportunities that connect them to energy education experts at EarthWays Center and at the Energy Center of the Missouri Department of Natural Resources.  Students participate in inquiry-based learning activities developing valuable data collection and analysis skills.  The students extend energy education to the community by serving as "Solar Ambassadors" at events that inform the community about energy issues and solutions. Missouri Schools Going Solar is sponsored by the Missouri Department of Natural Resources, administered by the Missouri Botanical Garden's EarthWays center, and supported by AmerenUE and Kansas City Power & Light.

Innovation Award  - District Energy St. Paul

District Energy St. Paul received the Inspiring Efficiency Innovation Award for their innovative combined heat and power (CHP) plant.  This project is notable for its use of urban wood waste to generate electricity and district heating and cooling, replacing up to 80 percent of District Energy's use of coal and oil with a renewable fuel that was previously a waste disposal problem.  By meeting the heating needs of its downtown customer base with this CHP technology,  District Energy gets twice the useful energy from the same amount of fuel while reducing carbon dioxide (CO2), sulpher dioxide (SO2) and particulate emissions by more than 60 percent.  One of the largest wood-fired CHP projects in the nation, the District Energy plant supplies electricity to Xcel Energy to partially fulfill a state mandate for biomass energy.  Minnesota's State Capitol Complex is the first government facility of its kind to heat and cool with green power.

Innovation Award  - The Cleveland Green Building Coalition

The Cleveland Green Building Coalition received the Inspiring Efficiency Innovation Award for their Emerging Green Designers Symposium, a program educating young design professionals on residential green building techniques.  This innovative program connects young architects to local home builders and developers.  This year alone the Symposium generated over $800,000 of energy efficient housing construction. The Homebuilders Association of Greater Cleveland has purchased one plan from the Symposium and is using it to construct the feature home for their 2006 CitiRama home show.  A partnership with the Cuyahoga Community Land Trust is building four affordable homes in the Cleveland EcoVillage and next year Habitat for Humanity will participate in the Symposium as client for energy-efficient, green design.

Marketing Award  - MidAmerican Energy

MidAmerican Energy received the Inspiring Efficiency Marketing Award for its Mr. Green/Save some green® advertising and marketing campaign.  This education and awareness campaign demystifies energy efficiency and provides Iowa consumers with low-cost/no-cost energy solutions for their homes.  It offers tips that homeowners and renters alike can apply immediately to save both energy and money.  The bright, engaging campaign materials will reach 96% of MidAmerican's television market area and 84% of its billboard or outdoor advertising area with important messages about energy efficiency.  The campaign is addressing a communication challenge by providing consistent, high-impact messaging on energy efficiency in a fun, accessible format.

Impact Award  - Alliant Energy-Wisconsin Power and Light Co.

Alliant Energy-Wisconsin Power and Light Co. received the Inspiring Efficiency IMPACT Award for their Shared Savings program, a program that helps Wisconsin businesses with technical assistance and financing for new energy efficiency projects.  Offering performance-based financing, the Shared Savings program helps Wisconsin Power and Light customers derive the benefits of new energy-efficient equipment and technology with no up-front capital investment.  Wisconsin Power and Light helps each participating customer identify cost-effective projects and then finances the initial project costs.  The customer pays for the project investment out of the energy savings generated over a five-year period.  The Shared Savings program has invested over $320 million into Wisconsin's economy over the last eight years, helping customers lower energy costs and increase competitiveness.  The cumulative energy savings from the program have allowed Wisconsin Power and Light to defer building a new 250 megawatt power plant.

Chairman's Award - Mary O'Toole

Mary O'Toole, whose distinguished career includes more than two decades of experience in regulatory and environmental strategy development, received the Inspiring Efficiency Chairman's Award.  The Chairman's Award is an annual award presented to an individual who has provided exemplary leadership and support to MEEA throughout its history.  During her tenure as Chair of MEEA's Board of Directors, Ms. O'Toole led MEEA to make great strides for energy efficiency-raising the dialog on energy efficiency to new levels, fostering a degree of collaboration previously unknown in our region, achieving measurable gains in energy efficiency.  In her long career at Commonwealth Edison Ms. O'Toole directed the company's Environmental Services department where she was responsible for environmental compliance at all company facilities.  In her capacity as director of ComEd's environmental strategy, she dealt directly with state and local regulators in complex negotiations that frequently had no precedents.  For the last four years Ms. O'Toole has served as Chair of the Solar Electric Power Association (SEPA) and has played a leading role in advancing SEPA's partnership with the City of Chicago, supporting the City's drive to become the greenest city in America.  Ms. O'Toole's civic engagement includes board service with The Nature Conservancy, Girl Scouts of Chicago, the National Engineering Advisory Board of Marquette University, and membership in the Leadership Greater Chicago Fellows Association among other honors.  Ms. O'Toole is currently President of KO Solutions LLC, a firm that assists clients in the development of regulatory and environmental strategies.