CASTLEGAR, B.C. – November 4, 2009 – Fourteen local businesses and organizations were recognized today with a FortisBC PowerSense Conservation Excellence or a Leadership Award for their outstanding achievements in energy efficiency in 2009.
"FortisBC is pleased to recognize customers who have shown a commitment to reducing their energy consumption by adopting innovative and energy efficient technologies and solutions," said John Walker, FortisBC’s President and CEO.
The awards were presented during a special awards ceremony held today at Castlegar & District Community Complex in Castlegar. FortisBC PowerSense Conservation Excellence Awards recognize customers who have shown a commitment to innovation, conservation and sustainability by completing energy efficiency projects that save more than 100,000 kilowatt hours annually.
Mike Harcourt, former British Columbia premier and former mayor of Vancouver, was keynote speaker at the event. Harcourt is the honourary chairman of QUEST II, an initiative led by a coalition from the energy industry, environmental movement, governments, academia and the consulting community.
"One of the principles behind QUEST is to improve efficiency and reduce the amount of energy that we use. FortisBC PowerSense is helping lead us down the sustainability path that we all need to take," said Harcourt.
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These businesses and organizations being recognized today are community leaders in energy efficiency and should be commended for their efforts," he added.
The Kootenay-Columbia School District was just one of the organizations to receive an award after it completed a district-wide lighting retrofit. Each of the 12 schools replaced lighting, installed occupancy sensors in all of the gyms and, in Castlegar’s high school, gym lighting was reduced to 30 fixtures from 200.
The electricity savings equate to more than 195,000 kilowatt hours (kWhs) in electricity, enough to power 15 homes for a year.
The Kootenay-Boundary winners — 14 organizations and individuals acting as leaders, catalysts, and educators — are:
Conservation Excellence
Selkirk College, Kootenay Lake School District No. 8, Kaslo Hotel, Canadian Tire (Trail), Columbia Brewing, Zellstoff Celgar Ltd., Wynndell Box and Lumber, Kootenay-Columbia School District No. 20, City of Grand Forks, Roxul Inc.
Leadership Awards
Regional District of Central Kootenay, Twin Rivers, Village of Slocan City, Hedley Improvement District
The winners achieved these energy savings by incorporating energy efficiency measures into new facility or upgrade projects. Together, the initiatives of these 14 businesses and institutions will save more than 4,170 MWhs, or enough to power 321 homes.
FortisBC’s PowerSense program is celebrating its 20th anniversary in 2009. October is PowerSense month, highlighting FortisBC’s commitment to energy efficiency and the need to reduce energy consumption and, specifically, peak energy consumption through the winter months. Since its inception, FortisBC PowerSense has helped southern interior customers save more than 329 million kWh, enough energy to power more than 25,000 homes each year. For more energy-saving tips, visit www.fortisbc.com or call FortisBC PowerSense at 1-866-4FORTIS (1-866-436-7847).
About FortisBC
FortisBC Inc. is an integrated regulated electric utility based in Kelowna, British Columbia. Focused on the safe delivery of reliable and cost-effective electricity, FortisBC serves approximately 158,000 customers directly and indirectly through wholesale utilities in the southern interior of B.C. FortisBC owns and operates four regulated hydroelectric generating plants and approximately 7,000 kilometres of transmission and distribution power lines. FortisBC employs over 500 people in British Columbia and is an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Fortis Inc., the largest investor-owned distribution utility in Canada. Fortis Inc. shares are listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange and trade under the symbol FTS. Additional information can be accessed at www.fortisinc.com or www.sedar.com.
For further information contact:
Marnie Douglas
Communications Specialist
FortisBC
Tel: (250) 469-8120 or Cellular (250) 878-3328
