Updated by Staff

DENVER - Xcel Energy this month has recognized Colorado businesses for noteworthy efforts to save energy at its annual Energy Efficiency Expo. The awards honored commercial, industrial and small-business customers in Colorado for participating inthe company’s 2009 energy efficiency programs.

Collectively, these companies saved more than 24 million kilowatt hours of electricity and 3,100 dekatherms of natural gas, which avoided the production of more than 16,000 tons of carbon dioxide - the equivalent of keeping 5,000 cars off the road for a year.

Xcel Energy offers incentives, such as rebates for energy efficiency measures and funding for efficiency studies, to its business and municipal customers to encourage them to make energy-efficient choices.

“Many of these conservation projects are often invisible to those not directly involved,” said Shawn White, Xcel Energy efficiency marketing manager. “These awards are a way to help recognize these businesses for their exceptional work so that employees and customers realize what’s happening behind the scenes.”

The twelve award recipients for efficiency are: 

“ King Soopers, Most Energy Savings from Multiple Programs (this is the second straight year King Soopers achieved this award);
“ Acme Distribution Centers, Most Energy Savings at One Premise;
“ Safeway Distribution, Lighting Efficiency program;
“ Premium Pet Health, Custom Efficiency program;
“ GeoEye , Energy Management System program;
“ The Children’s Hospital, Recommissioning program;
“ CB Richard Ellis, Motor Efficiency program;
“ Shea Properties, Energy Design Assistance program;
“ Evraz Rocky Mountain Steel, Compressed Air Efficiency program;
“ Kaiser Permanente, Cooling Efficiency program;
“ Pikotek, Largest Energy Savings by a Small/Medium-sized Business; and
“ Colorado State University, Heating Efficiency (natural gas)

Approximately 600 Colorado Xcel Energy business customers attended the Energy Efficiency Expo, which featured teams of energy experts from Xcel Energy and outside organizations providing participants energy-saving 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 energy-saving targets and lower their costs.

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