2023 NATIONAL ENERGY EFFICIENCY AWARD WINNERS ANNOUNCED
The National Energy Efficiency Awards recognise and celebrate excellence in energy efficiency, energy management and demand response across Australia.
Australia's energy management community gathered to celebrate the sector's best and brightest, which this year included beloved and much-respected names beside some incredible emerging talent. We've been thrilled to be able to pay tribute to EEC past president Tony Arnel, industry luminaries such as Jenny Edwards, and exciting young talent including Michael Berger and Dr Shama Islam.
Energy Efficiency Champion 2023
Winner: Jenny Edwards
Presented to an individual who has demonstrated outstanding achievement in advancing the energy efficiency industry, through advocacy, research, education or projects.
Jenny is the owner and Director Light House Architecture and Science, a multi-award-winning practice that integrates science into the design process to deliver efficiency, all-electric, climate-resilient homes in the Canberra region. Throughout her career, Jenny has won too many awards to list here. To call out just a few, in 2018, her own all-electric home won the national HIA GreenSmart Sustainable Home of the year, then in 2020, her all-gas to all-electric conversion and renovation project, ‘Little Loft House’ won a prestigious sustainable architecture award. Jenny is a true champion of sustainability and energy efficiency, undertaking a huge amount of free advocacy and education work to support the cause. She’s also gone a long way to proving that there is a demand for smaller, smarter, more sustainable, gas free housing.
Young Energy Efficiency Professional 2023
Winner: Michael Berger
Presented to an individual under 35 years of age, who has demonstrated outstanding achievement in advancing the energy efficiency industry, through advocacy, research, education or projects
As Head of R&D at Conserve it, Michael leads a team that research, design, prototype, and productise state-of-the-art machine learning algorithms for real-time optimisation of live equipment in the built environment, ranging from innovative chiller plant optimisation to predictive maintenance to advanced control systems. He’s leading the way on applying mathematical modelling optimisation and machine learning methods to chiller plant controls to increase energy efficiency – and regularly shares knowledge on methodology to support the industry. He’s also been leading progress towards further integration of renewable energy sources with HVAC systems, notably driving a collaboration with CSIRO and Echuca Regional Health on a CRC-P project to research and trial a model predictive controls approach to optimise the usage of on-site solar production through thermal storage and both electric, and absorption chillers. He’s spoken as an expert at conferences locally, and internationally.
Highly Commeded: Dr Shama Islam
Shama has contributed significantly in the energy sector through research and education over the last seven years. As a Senior Lecturer in Electrical Engineering at Deakin, she supports students in the areas of distributed generation, power system design, energy efficiency and demand management. Shama has also been involved in a number of successful external projects and collaborated with an impressive range of external energy industry organisations. She’s a proven a leader and catalyst of change, undertaking roles such as Chair of the IEEE Power and Energy Society’s Victorian Chapter, and acting as their Women in Power coordinator – championing the participation of female engineers in the organisation. She is regularly invited as an expert speaker to conferences around Australia.
Energy Efficiency Council Life Fellow 2023
Winner: Tony Arnel
For significant contributions to the development and advancement of the Energy Efficiency Council.
Tony is a leader in sustainable planning, design and efficiency, and has tirelessly advocated for efficient buildings to reduce emissions without impacting economic growth.
Tony spent 12 years as the Victorian Building and Plumbing Industry Commissioner; was a founding Director and Chair of the Green Building Council of Australia; Chair of the World Green Building Council and, while President of the EEC, was the Global Director of Sustainability with Norman Disney & Young.
Currently Tony is an Industry Professor in the Faculty of Science Engineering and the Built Environment at Deakin University, and has chaired the Deakin University School of Engineering Advisory Board and the School of Architecture and Building Board.
Over his six years as president, the EEC increased its reputation as an influential peak body representing the interests of its members, and was increasingly recognised as a well governed, strategic and thought-leading organisation which was able to formulate and drive policy around Australia.
Tony’s outstanding contribution to the Council and its mission is undisputed, and his legacy has significantly and decisively contributed to the development of the energy management sector.
Best Innovation in Energy Management 2023
Winner: Deakin University for their Household energy optimisation tool
Recognising performance, leadership and innovation for new products that deliver improvements in energy productivity.
This tool aims to reduce residential electricity consumption by optimising the operating time of home appliances to coincide with high solar generation. The tool’s trial in Geelong demonstrated a reduction in peak energy consumption of up to 61%, and indicated that the technology pays for itself in only 14 months.
Best Commercial Building Energy Management Project 2023
Winner: Bridgeford Group for ESTA Ballarat Refurbishment
Recognising performance, leadership and innovation for commercial building energy management projects.
Bridgeford undertook a complex major upgrade of the mechanical systems at the 000 Call Centre in Ballarat, including 4-pipe heat pump chillers, reticulation pipework, new MSSB and FCUs, all designed and installed to maintain operations of this critical 24/7 call centre.
Best Industrial Energy Management Project 2023
Winner: Visy Tumut Lime Kilns project
Recognising performance, leadership and innovation for industrial energy management projects.
This implementation of Advanced Process Control enabled tighter control of the lime production process in two kiln burners at Visy’s Tumut pulp and paper mill, reducing natural gas demand, saving operator time, and stabilising production quality. Savings were independently measured by Northmore Gordon, and demonstrated a 7.2 per cent saving of site natural gas consumption.
Best Residential Energy Management Project 2023, presented in partnership with Renew:
Winner: ACT Government for introducing minimum insulation standards for rental homes
Recognising performance, leadership and innovation for residential energy management projects
Recognising that many renters live in poor quality housing that doesn’t meet community expectations around health, comfort, security and happiness – the ACT government recently introduced a regulation that requires all residential rental properties to meet a new minimum efficiency standard for ceiling insulation. This measure included extensive community and industry consultation and partnership.
Highly Commeded: Sustainability Victoria for the 7 Star Homes program
The 7 Star Homes Program works right across the building and construction supply chain. Through a mixture of rebates and building industry capability, the program supports the smooth transition to a 7-star requirement in the NCC, with a proactive approach to managing the change in Victoria.
Best agricultural Energy Management Project 2023
Winner: Alternate Energy Innovations for Wilandra Farms Irrigation project
Recognising performance, leadership and innovation for agricultural energy management projects
This dairy farm project utilised automated irrigation pumping to maximise consumption of on site solar using AEI’s SmartBox system. The end result was an almost 90% reduction in electricity consumed during the irrigation season, saving about $80,000 and cutting 15 hours a week in labour (often in the middle of the night), leading to less stress and more sleep for staff!
Leading Energy User 2023, presented in partnership with the Energy Users Association of Australia
Winner: Asahi Beverages
Leading Energy User is presented to an energy user that has demonstrated excellence in energy management at either the site or portfolio level.
Through measures including recovering waste heat from boiler flue gas, efficient equipment replacement and optimising existing processes at their Tullamarine and Abbotsford sites, Asahi reduced operating costs and saved approximately 650 tons of Co2 emissions compared with the previous year.
Integrated Clean Energy 2023, In partnership with ARENA
Winner: Veolia for the University of Sunshine Coast Project
Presented to a nominated project that has demonstrated excellence in integrating high levels of energy productivity and renewable energy at the site, portfolio, precinct or community level
At no cost to the USC, Veolia is building a sophisticated plant through a Design, Build, Own, Operate and Transfer model. The project includes a BMS control system, allowing sophisticated management of energy demand in real-time. Estimated to save $100m in utilities over its 25-year life along with over 100,000 tonnes of Co2 emissions, this project centres the university at the forefront of energy reduction and management. This project in a high-profile existing building showcases a technology solution to improve energy efficiency and electrify to remove Scope 1 emissions.
Best SME Energy Management Project 2023
Winner: Regenerate Engineering for 3 Ravens Renewable Heat Brewery Project
Awarded to SME's that drive improvements in energy management, increase retrofit opportunities, improve reliability or deliver other benefits to the grid.
With this upgrade now completed, combined energy usage at 3 Ravens’ has been reduced by almost 60%, and when production volumes increase, energy productivity improvements will mean their energy use will stabilise at a level similar to pre-upgrade, despite significantly increasing production capacity.
Best Energy Saving Program 2023
Winner: NSW Government for the Manufacturing Efficiency Funding Program
Awarded to programs that drive improvements in energy management, increase retrofit opportunities, improve reliability or deliver other benefits to the grid.
Launched in 2018, this five-year Program has supported NSW manufacturers to save energy and money through energy efficiency upgrades, and through the installation of metering and monitoring. The program included co-funding of up to $70,000 and covered up to 50% of project costs. The program included measurement and verification requirements, and at the time of evaluation, more than 180 unique manufacturing businesses in NSW were represented.
Highly Commeded: Sustainability Victoria for the 7 Star Homes program
This Scheme is a $150 million program to assist households and community organisations to make energy efficiency upgrades. It provides zero-interest loans of up to $15,000, and as the first program in the country to offer a full suite of sustainable products, it’s expected to benefit over 10,000 ACT homes throughout its five-year life.
NATIONAL ENERGY EFFICIENCY AWARDS 2023, PROUDLY SUPPORTED BY:
