Last year, energy conserved by 14 West Kootenay businesses and organizations saved more than 4,170 MWhs of energy — more than enough to power 321 homes on an annual basis.

Those green entities were recognized at a luncheon last week hosted by FortisBC PowerSense.

"FortisBC is pleased to recognize customers who have shown a commitment to reducing their energy consumption by adopting innovative and energy-efficient technologies and solutions," said John Walker, FortisBC’s President and CEO.

The awards were presented during a special awards ceremony held Nov. 4 at Castlegar and District Community Complex. FortisBC PowerSense Conservation Excellence Awards recognize customers who have shown a commitment to innovation, conservation and sustainability by completing energy-efficiency projects that save more than 100,000 kWhs annually.

On hand to commend the participants was the former mayor of Vancouver and former BC premier, Mike Harcourt, who is fervent about conservation and sustainable living. He is the honourary chairman of QUEST II, an initiative led by a coalition from the energy industry, environmental movement, governments, academia and the consulting community.

"One of the principles behind QUEST is to improve efficiency and reduce the amount of energy that we use. FortisBC PowerSense is helping lead us down the sustainability path that we all need to take," said Harcourt.

"These businesses and organizations being recognized today are community leaders in energy efficiency and should be commended for their efforts," he added.

Kootenay-Columbia School District was just one of the organizations to receive an award after it completed a district-wide lighting retrofit. Each of the 12 schools replaced lighting, installed occupancy sensors in all of the gyms and, in Castlegar’s high school, gym lighting was reduced to 30 fixtures from 200.

The electricity savings equate to more than 195,000 kWhs in electricity, enough to power 15 homes for a year.

Conservation excellence awards also went to Selkirk College, Zellstoff Celgar Ltd., Kootenay Lake School District No. 8, Kaslo Hotel, Canadian Tire (Trail), Columbia Brewing, Wynndell Box and Lumber, Kootenay-Columbia School District No. 20, City of Grand Forks, and Roxul Inc.

Leadership awards were handed out to Regional District of Central Kootenay, Twin Rivers, Village of Slocan City and the Hedley Improvement District.

The winners achieved energy savings by incorporating energy efficiency measures into a new facility or upgrade projects.