Salt Lake City, June 30, 2011 – National Energy Foundation (NEF) and Johnson Controls, Inc. (JCI) have announced the winners of its 10th annual Igniting Creative Energy (ICE) Challenge. ICE is a national competition that encourages kindergarten through 12th grade students to develop creative actions and ideas about energy efficiency.

The 2011 ICE winners and the national teacher winner were recognized today at the 22nd annual Energy Efficiency Forum at the National Press Club, where they shared their winning energy ideas with leading policymakers, energy experts and elected officials. Co-sponsored by JCI and the United States Energy Association, the Energy Efficiency Forum aims to promote an energy efficiency ethic through the presentation of national and worldwide views on energy efficiency and the resulting impact on the environment, national security and economic growth. In partnership with Kohler Co., a global leader in kitchen and bath design, technology and water efficiency, this year a special category called "ICE Water" was developed to give focus to the importance of water conservation.

This year's ICE Challenge winners are:

• Elementary Division (K–5) – Heather Eberhard, a fifth-grader from Northeast Elementary in New Mexico, created an informative video of a puppet show about reducing, reusing and recycling plastic bottles.
• Middle School Division (6–8) – Aitan Grossman, an eighth-grader from The Nueva School in California, developed a website (www.KidEarth.us) to showcase an original song that he composed and recorded about global warming called "100 Generations."
• High School Division (9–12) – Adam Hersko-RonaTas, a freshman from La Jolla High School in California, made a self-narrated, animated video about weatherization.
• Water Category Division – Adrianna Kuzma, a home-schooled sophomore from Indiana, created a self-narrated video about water conservation that includes current water issues, tips to save water and interviews with local government officials.
• Teacher Division – Michael Nelms, a teacher at Sandy Run Middle School in Dresher, Pa., has helped his Upper Dublin School District net three state champions in the ICE program.

"Students today are taking energy efficiency and water conservation into their own hands by advancing their creative ideas for a more sustainable planet," said Clay Nesler, vice president, Global Energy and Sustainability, Johnson Controls Building Efficiency. "The ICE Challenge winners exemplify our future leaders and stewards of the environment. We are proud to recognize these students for their accomplishments and showcase their ideas at the North America Energy Efficiency Forum."

More information about this year's winning entries can be found at www.ignitingcreativeenergy.org.

"Kohler Co. is pleased to be a sponsor of this year's competition. Helping consumers understand how to use water more efficiently in their homes and communities is something we've supported through public outreach efforts such as our website, www.savewateramerica.com," said Rob Zimmerman, manager of engineering, water conservation and sustainability for Kohler Co. "We are excited to see young people think creatively about water issues, and we congratulate all of this year's ICE Water participants."

Source: National Energy Foundation Press Release

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