The awards will be presented at a reception at the Explorer Hotel on February 25, 2010.
2008 Energy Action Award Winners
AEA Executive Director Andrew Robinson, centre is shown with '08 Energy Action Award recipients, from left, Steve Outlet of the AEA on behalf of the Pre-Apprenticeship Course, Hugh Graham of NPR Commercial Property, Kaad Mukhtaar and YK Deputy Mayor Mark Heyck.
Youth/Schools Category
Winner: Pre-Apprenticeship Course, Aurora Campus, Aurora College, Inuvik, NT
In early 2009 the Arctic Energy Alliance teamed up with the Aurora College Pre-Apprentice class in Inuvik to run a pilot Winterization program. Under the program, the students received hands-on training as they winterized 10 elders’ homes with window plastic, caulking, weather stripping, programmable thermostats, low-flow shower heads and more. The AEA salutes the students, as well as instructors Neil Flynn and Rick Lindsay, for their enthusiasm and the dedicated effort they brought to the pilot Winterization program! Honourable Mention: Vanessa Baron, Yellowknife NT
Individual Category
Winner: Kaad Mukhtaar, Yellowknife, NT
Kaad Mukhtaar is the first taxi driver in the NWT to drive a hybrid vehicle (a 2008 Toyota Prius). Kaad also helped the Arctic Energy Alliance create a case study on hybrid vehicles in Yellowknife. This case study showed that Kaad is saving approximately $5,000 per year and reducing his greenhouse gas emissions by about 9,000 kg of carbon dioxide. Honourable Mention: Gene Hugo, Yellowknife, NT
Institution/Business Category
Winner: NPR Commercial Property, Yellowknife, NT
NPR Commercial Property (NPREIT) has implemented energy-saving measures and efficiency upgrades in four of its buildings (YK Centre, YK Centre East, YK Centre West and the Court House). A review by the AEA shows that the energy consumption for the four buildings has been reduced by about 23 per cent with a cost savings of about $370,000 and a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions of about 502 tonnes per year. This is the equivalent of removing 100 cars or light trucks from the road. Honourable Mention: A.D. Williams Engineering Inc.
Community Category
Winner: City of Yellowknife
The City of Yellowknife is one of the few cities in Canada to have taken serious steps to implement a Community Energy Plan. The City’s actions have included: one of the most efficient building codes in Canada; reduced greenhouse gas emissions by installing a wood pellet boiler at the YK Community Arena, YK Curling Club and Ruth Inch Memorial Pool – and thereby putting it well on its way to meeting its greenhouse gas targets years ahead of schedule; conducting a geothermal study; conducting energy audits on all facilities, and developing a SMART Growth Plan.
Bellanca Developments completed a major retrofit of the exterior cladding of the Bellanca Building – 4914 50 St. In addition to improving tenant comfort, fuel consumption was reduced by fifty percent. Recycling insulation and cladding materials to other existing buildings resulted in a minimal amount of debris going to the municipal landfill. Bellanca Developments plans to continue their energy use reduction by replacing air handling equipment with smaller more efficient systems.
Honourable mention: Northwest Territories Power Corporation.
NTPC continues reduction of greenhouse gas emissions by converting community street lights from mercury vapor lights to high pressure sodium lights. It is estimated this action reduced carbon emissions by 84 tonnes last year.
Energy Awareness Residential
École J..H. Sissons Grade 5 French immersion class
Students built models of energy efficient houses as part of a class project. Students were assigned a mock budget of $50,000 to build environmentally friendly houses increasing their level of energy awareness.
Honourable mention: Emile; Karley, and Martin Zibeau
This Zibeau family have developed a lifestyle that uses little dependency on electricity utilizing various non electrical appliances.
Energy Awareness Commercial
Racquet Club
The Racquet Club has put energy awareness into action through use of motion sensor lights in its’ change rooms and exercise rooms, as well as utilizing low flush toilets.
Arctic Energy Alliance gratefully acknowledges the time, effort and support of the Judge’s Panel for selecting award winners. The panel included: Mayor Gordon Van Tighem, President NWT Association of Communities; Doug Ritchie, Ecology North; Bill Tobey, Igloo Building Supplies Group; and Hilary Machtans of Golder Associates Ltd.
