ENERGY EFFICIENCY

2006 - Nick Strus, Diavik Diamond Mines Ltd.
This award goes to Nick Strus of Diavik Diamond Mines Ltd. As Site Maintenance Planner at Diavik, one of Nick's responsibilities included the "Six Sigma Energy Reduction Project." Mr. Strus is credited with establishing the Idle Management Policy which requires engine shut down at temperatures above 0°C. resulting in a potential saving of 700,000 litres of fuel consumption per year. Additionally, the policy incorporates the use of diesel fired coolant heaters which allows trucks to shut down between 0°C and -20°C. Once these installations are finished, an additional saving of a 600,000 litres per year will be realized.

Thanks to Nick's efforts, there will be a saving of up to 1.5 million litres of fuel per year at the Diavik site.

2005-The Morton Family
The Morton family of Yellowknife is recognized for the endless work which they have completed this year in making their home energy efficient and providing environmental education for their daughter. Their actions show dedication in practicing energy efficiency.

2004-Yellowknife Liquor Shop
The owners, Perry and Donna Smith were recognized for installing the Freeaire refrigeration system. This innovative option allows utilization of a natural resource, cold air in the north. Rather than relying on a compressor system to produce cold air, it simply moves the cold air from the outside to the inside using a fraction of the energy. The Liquor Shop uses this innovation to harness outside air to operate their coolers without using compressors for the majority of the year. This cooler system also cools the entire store without using air conditioners in the warm months.

2003 - Polar Developments
In an effort to control the energy consumed by their energized parking stalls at Anderson-Thomson Tower in Yellowknife, the company installed Intelligent Parking Lot Controllers (IPLC). Using computerized technology, the IPLC reduces the amount of time that power is actually supplied to each plug-in. It electronically turns the electricity on or off on a timed schedule that starts each time the car is plugged in. Another feature of the system is its ability to adjust the schedule as the outdoor temperature rises and falls. It is estimated that this will save $15,000 in electricity bills each year.

2002 - BHP Billiton Diamonds Inc.
In April 2002, enthusiastic volunteers from various departments at the company's Ekati™ mine site formed an "Operating Excellence" team. Originally, their goal was to cut back the amount of fuel used to operate the mine by 500,000 litres each year. Through their own ideas and a continuing flow of suggestions from other employees, the initiative surpassed its goal and saved one million litres in just over a year.

2001 - Yellowknife Education District No. 1
The district was recognized for its commitment to controlling energy costs as a good business practice. Based on a multi-year plan, the improvements to the facilities have included various retrofits, timer installations, photo cell equipment upgrades and improvements to gym fan systems and air supply return fans. These changes have resulted in an annual savings of $63,000.

RENEWABLE TECHNOLOGY

2006 - NAAS Enterprises Ltd.
NAAS Enterprises Ltd. receives this award for demonstrating how Renewable Technology can be used as a viable alternative in residential construction. NAAS built an energy efficient duplex in the Niven Lake sub-division. The building incorporated passive solar use by installing south-facing windows. Solar heat is transferred through, and stored into, large concrete masses in its floors and walls. The building also uses hot water solar collectors and a solar thermal collector. The domestic hot water solar collectors consist of two panels covering an area of 5.76m² and provide preheated water to the building's domestic hot water system. The 12 m² solar thermal collector provides heat energy and transfers it hydronically to the concrete block wall where it is stored. Further, there is a wood/corn pellet combination boiler with an electric boiler back-up system -- the two boilers are fuelled by renewable fuel resources and have minimal emissions. Dedicated to renewable technology development, NAAS has shown its commitment to clean energy.

2005-Boreal Sun Properties
Boreal Sun Properties of Fort Smith has shown commitment to clean energy practices by linking its buildings with a solar walkway that provides solar energy and adds comfort. Converting the heating system to an energy efficient wood-burning system has eliminated the electrical boiler backup usage by 90%. Having an anti-idling policy testifies to the company's commitment to sustainable transportation and saving on greenhouse gas emissions. Dedicated to renewable technology development, Boreal Sun Properties has shown its commitment to clean energy.

2004- Department of Transportation
The Government of the Northwest Territories Department of Transportation set goals to reduce overall energy consumption for airport facilities, reduce overall energy costs, and use newer technology to employ alternate energy options. With funding from the Energy Secretariat, photovoltaic/battery systems (for provision of power for select loads) have been installed at the Tulita and Whati Air Terminal Buildings. Solar power is used in conjunction with solar panels to charge a battery bank. This bank, through an inverter, provides normal AC power to operate the heating systems in both buildings.

The Airports Program partnered with the Energy Secretariat and a private sector company, Carmanah Technologies Inc., to pilot test new technology photovoltaic solar powered runway and taxiway edge lighting at the Yellowknife Airport. If successful, and upon completion of Transport Canada approvals, the technology will be utilized at airports where it is deemed appropriate and beneficial for the operation of the airport facilities. These energy actions were taken in addition to energy audits at the following airport facilities: Fort Liard, Fort McPherson, Fort Simpson, Fort Smith, Hay River, Inuvik, Norman Wells Paulatuk, Tuktoyaktuk, & Yellowknife.

2003 - The Sir John Franklin Solar Initiative
In 2002, the Biology 20 class at Sir John Franklin High School was studying global climate change in conjunction with the Northern Climate Exchange Program. One way to reduce the impact of climate change is to reduce fossil fuel based power. So, the class decided to start a project that would explore the practical application of alternative energy in the north. Today, sixteen 130-watt solar panels are perched on the roof of the school. While the panels will only save the school about $450 a year in electricity and reduce their net greenhouse gas emissions by about 390 kilograms, the project is far from over. Current and future Biology 20 students will use them to learn more about solar energy and how it works in the north.

2002 - Garry Foote
Mr. Foote was presented with this award for his extraordinary efforts to use renewable energy sources in his home. By making the choice to convert from a gasoline generator to solar power, the Footes reduced their weekly gasoline use from 20 to 4 litres. They also use wood, another renewable resource, to heat their home.

2001 - Northwestel
Northwestel earned the Energy Action Award in the Renewable Technology category by dramatically reducing their use of diesel fuel at a remote microwave site. By installing solar panels and storage batteries at a mountaintop repeater site near Cantung, the site is now primarily solar powered. The equipment falls back on the diesel power generator only when there isn't enough sunshine. This innovation has cut diesel fuel use dramatically, from an average of 30 to only 10 litres per day.

ENERGY AWARENESS

2006 - Nazim Awan
Nazim Awan of Norman Wells receives this award for implementing Energy Awareness practises in both his home and family life. Mr. Awan attended an Arctic Energy Alliance's workshop in Norman Wells which inspired him to reduce energy consumption in his home. He replaced all lighting with 12-15 watt fluorescent energy efficient Energy Star bulbs, and saved an average of $50.00 a month. By caulking doors and windows, and putting shrink wrap around the windows, he further reduced energy loss while reducing the amount of time the furnace operates and keeping a comfortable temperature in his home. All of this lowered the cost of his fuel and power bills. The Awan family further increased energy cost savings and efficiency by walking to school and work; this is now a daily practice for his family. The vehicle is only used for necessities.

Energy-wise practice has become a commendable and cost efficient way of life for this northern family.

2005 - Rebecca Aylward
Ms. Rebecca Aylward, a teacher from Hay River, has shown her commitment to conserve energy by participating in actions that reduce greenhouse gas emissions such as turning down the heat and using extra blankets and layering clothing. Rebecca and her co-workers use car-pooling, covering 40 km per day to and from work. By making these adjustments to her everyday life she sets an example to all.

2004 - K'àlemi Dene School
K'àlemi Dene School enrolled in the Green Schools project through Seeds International two years ago. Since then, teachers and students have been involved in over 75 environmental projects focussed on protecting the northern environment and educating students about sustainability.

By doing little things like saving power and water in energy efficient ways, asking parents not to idle their cars, recycling, composting, and understanding how ecology works, students are showing that they are active citizens who care about the world around them.

As young Dene people, students learn respect for a land that is so much a part of their history and of their future. Through community clean ups and recycling programs in their schools, students are thinking and acting to protect future generations.

2003 - The Ecology North Whati Sustainability Project
The Charter Community of Whati and Ecology North worked together to earn this award. The project is an integrated program that also includes energy management and renewable technologies. But, the group won this award because they raised the level of energy awareness in the community by:

• Creating an Elders Advisory Committee and Youth Action Group focussing on discussions of sustainability and independence;
• Holding an elder/youth workshop that focussed on the traditional value placed on living sustainably;
• Training community members so that they can staff the projects and activities;
• Launching a youth-driven anti-idling public relations campaign; and
• Conducting extensive one-on-one consultations with Whati residents to increase awareness and understanding of energy consumption issues.

2002 - The Nik'e Niya Birth Centre
The birth centre won for their five-day Healthy Home and Environment Workshop held in August of last year. One of the key objectives of the workshop was to increase awareness of the relationship between health and environmental issues and how these are linked to poor building design and high energy use.

2001 - Bob White's Grade 6 Class (2000-2001), Harry Camsell Elementary School
This group of students lived and breathed climate change. The class monitored climate change impacts in the physical environment, monitored media for climate change stories, experimented with climate change and took their climate change work into the field in Hay River. They truly made climate change come alive in the South Slave community and shared their understanding with everyone they met.