QUEST Announces Winners of the 2013 Community Energy builder Awards

Ottawa, ON – On Nov. 13, QUEST announced the winners of the 2013 Community Energy Builder Awards at the annual QUEST 2013 Gala Dinner & Awards Ceremony in Markham, Ontario. The Community Energy Builder Awards are presented annually by QUEST to recognize leadership and innovation in advancing smart energy communities in Canada. Awards are presented in three categories: Local Government, Real Estate Sector, and Utility.

The Winners of the 2013 Community Energy Builder Awards were selected for projects, programs or plans completed in 2012-2013.

The Winner of the 2013 Community Energy Builder Award for Local Government is the City of Surrey, British Columbia, for the development of a district energy system in its downtown core and the largest Organic Biofuels facility in Canada which will turn organic waste into renewable natural gas.

Runners-up in the Local Government category were the City of Guelph and Halifax Regional Municipality.

The Winner of the 2013 Community Energy Builder Award for Utility is Horizon Utilities Corporation, which serves Hamilton and St. Catharines, Ontario, for its Energy Conservation Mapping Program which helps target conservation initiatives in its territory and for the design of its Smart Growth Connection Policy which incentivizes more compact urban development.

Runners-up in the Utility category were BC Hydro and Enbridge Gas Distribution.

The Winner of the 2013 Community Energy Builder Award for Real Estate Sector is Simon Fraser University Community Trust, in Burnaby British Columbia, for connecting 5 buildings to a burgeoning biomass-fuelled neighbourhood district energy system. 

Runners-up in the Real Estate Sector category were Minto and DEC Engineering.

Awards were presented at the QUEST 2013 Gala Dinner & Awards Ceremony on Wednesday, November 13, in Markham, Ontario, which was part of the QUEST 2013 Conference & Tradeshow.

“A lot can be done at the community level to improve energy efficiency and reduce greenhouse gas emissions in Canada,” said Michael Harcourt, Former Premier of British Columbia and Mayor of Vancouver, and Chair of QUEST. “I congratulate the community builders who are the winners of this year’s awards for taking the lead and setting an important example.”