Xcel Energy announces 2013 Energy Efficiency Expo Awards

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Area businesses recognized for outstanding electricity and natural gas savings 

MINNEAPOLIS - Xcel Energy recently recognized seven Minnesota businesses for their outstanding efforts to save energy at its annual Energy Efficiency Expo at the St. Paul RiverCentre in downtown St. Paul. The awards honor commercial, industrial and small business customers in Minnesota for participating in Xcel Energy 2012 energy efficiency programs.
The companies lowered their energy costs and reduced their impact on the environment. Collectively, they saved more than 15 million kilowatt­hours of electricity and more than 1.9 million therms of natural gas in a 12­month period. That's the equivalent of taking more than 4,200 cars off the road.
Xcel Energy offers incentives, such as rebates and funding for energy efficiency studies, to its business and municipal customers to encourage them to make energy­efficient choices. The seven companies recognized today chose more efficient equipment and processes for their facilities.
"Businesses are placing efficiency projects higher on the priority list now that they realize how much money can be saved," said Karen Rhodes, Xcel Energy efficiency marketing manager. "These awards are a way for businesses to share their accomplishments with employees and customers."
The seven award recipients for efficiency are:
•University of Minnesota, Platinum award: 35 million kilowatt­hours saved over five years

•Mall of America, highest electricity savings by a commercial customer: nearly

7.2 million kwh saved

•Southtown Office Park, highest electric savings by a small business customer:

1.5 million kwh saved

•3M, highest natural gas savings by a commercial customer: nearly 1.8 million therms saved

•WuXi AppTec, highest natural gas savings by a small business customer: 43,595 therms saved

•Holiday Companies, highest number of projects completed by a commercial customer: 150 projects

•Bigos Investment, highest number of projects completed by a small/medium sized customer: 10 projects

The University of Minnesota received the Platinum Award for its long­term commitment to energy efficiency. Starting in 2008, operations managers set aggressive efficiency and carbon emission reduction goals, including annual commitments to conserve 5 percent of the previous year's total energy consumption. The university's efforts have resulted in more than $15 million in total energy savings. In addition, its sustainability awareness campaign called "It All Adds Up" continues to be the cornerstone of energy efficiency and sustainability initiatives across campus.
More than 700 Minnesota Xcel Energy business customers attended the Energy Efficiency Expo, which featured teams of energy experts from Xcel Energy and outside organizations providing participants energy­saving ideas and opportunities for rebates and energy efficiency study funding. Highlights of the event included energy conservation workshops designed to help participants build an efficiency strategy to meet their energy­saving targets and lower their costs.

For more information on Xcel Energy's new and existing energy efficiency programs, visit www.responsiblebynature.com