DENVER - Xcel Energy recently recognized 10 Colorado businesses for their outstanding efforts to save energy at its annual Energy Efficiency Customer event in Denver. More than 250 Colorado Xcel Energy business customers attended the event, which featured teams of energy experts from Xcel Energy to provide energy-saving ideas and opportunities for rebates and energy-efficiency study funding.

The awards honored commercial, industrial and small-business customers in Colorado for participating in Xcel Energy's 2011 energy-efficiency programs. Collectively, these companies saved more than 38 million kilowatt-hours of electricity, which avoided production of more than 22,000 tons of carbon dioxide -- the equivalent of keeping 5,000 cars off the road for a year.

"Our customers continue to embrace energy-efficiency and its many benefits and we are pleased to recognize their accomplishments," said Jerome Davis, Xcel Energy regional vice president for Colorado. "Their investments will make their businesses more sustainable operationally and environmentally and we believe they should be recognized for the commitments they have made to their communities and Colorado."

The 10 award recipients for efficiency are:

  • City of Greeley, Custom Efficiency Achievement Award
  • Denver Public Schools, Heating Efficiency Achievement Award
  • Henderson Mine & Mill, Highest Energy Savings by a Single Premise
  • IKEA, Energy Design Assistance Achievement Award
  • King Soopers, Highest Savings for Multiple Program Participation
  • Lockheed Martin, Process Efficiency Achievement Award
  • Mesa County Valley School District 51, Self Direct Achievement Award
  • Northeastern Junior College, Standard Offer Achievement Award
  • Sheraton Hotel, Energy Management Systems Achievement Award
  • Southern Wine & Spirits of Colorado, Highest Energy Savings by a Small or Mid-sized Business

For more information on Xcel Energy's new and existing energy efficiency programs, or for specific information on the individual winners, contact media relations or visit www.responsiblebynature.com.