The 2014 annual Community Energy Builder Awards were recently presented to three Canadian winners to honour leadership and innovation in advancing smart energy communities across the country.

At a gala dinner in Vancouver, B.C., the Quality Urban Energy Systems of Tomorrow (QUEST) handed out awards in three categories: Local Government, Real Estate Sector and Utility.

Michael Harcourt, former premiere of British Columbia and mayor of Vancouver, and chair of QUEST congratulated the winners for “setting an important example.”

“With 60 per cent of energy use and over half of greenhouse gas emissions in Canada happening in communities, it’s clear that sustainable communities need to start by being Smart Energy Communities,” he said.

The winners were selected for projects, programs or plans completed in 2013 to 2014.

2014 Community Energy Builder Award – Local Government

The City of Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, for successfully completing a 10-year community energy plan and exceeding greenhouse gas emission reduction targets by 100 per cent, in part by converting from oil to renewable wood-pellet burning heating systems.

Runners-up in the Local Government category were The City of Guelph in Ontario and The City of Colwood in British Columbia.

2014 Community Energy Builder Award – Utility

Envida Community Energy Inc. from Guelph, Ontario, for building and commissioning the first segment of the Galt District Energy System, implementing seven solar energy facilities and a small-scale combined heat and power system, obtaining approval for a forthcoming large-scale combined heat and power facility and qualifying to develop biomass projects.

Runners-up in the Utility category were PowerStream and Union Gas, both in Ontario.

2014 Community Energy Builder Award – Real Estate Sector

Westbank Corp. from British Columbia, who, in partnership with TELUS Communications is building the TELUS Garden property, which includes a 22-storey LEED Platinum office tower as well as a small district energy system that captures waste heat from an adjacent TELUS data centre and uses it for space and water heating.

Runners-up in the Real Estate Sector category were Wesgroup and Cadillac Fairview, both in British Columbia.