OREANDA-NEWS. On 08 May 2009 was announced, that over 1000 legal entities - consumers of heat and electric power - participated in the "Energy Cooperation Contest" organized by IES-Holding in 16 regions of the Russian Federation. The rewarding ceremony of the Energy Effect of the Year" prizes was held on April 23-24.

The prizes were distributed among seven nominations: "Industrial Enterprises", "Enterprises of Small and Medium Business", "State, Municipal and Social Enterprises", "Agricultural Enterprises", "Associations of Housing Owners, Management Organizations and Municipal Utility Enterprises" and "Network Companies". Each winner received a certificate and prize symbolizing the cooperation of representatives of energy industry and consumers aimed at increase of energy efficiency in business.

As the contest showed the most energy efficient among industrial enterprises proved to be manufacturing engineering companies - they won more then a quarter of all prizes (26%) in this nomination. The chemical industry won 15% of prizes, metallurgical industry - 11% and oil and construction industries - 9%. Among state, municipal and social enterprises the leaders are universities, schools and libraries, which account for 30% of all prize-winners, medical institution are on the second place, they account for over 25%.

"Being the largest heat and electric power producers in Russia we are very interested in the future development of our clients, their reliability, financial ability and energy consumption efficiency. Our task is to help to each other save energy resources and to assure their efficient usage. This is the only way for us to cooperate and develop successfully. For our part we are ready to realize joint projects, to conduct trainings, seminars and to share state-of-the-art technologies. It is vitally important to start now in order to use afterwards shared knowledge and experience for future development", - Mikhail Slobodin IES-Holding President noted in his speech to participants of the contest.

The purpose of the interregional "Energy Cooperation Contest" is to attract attention to the issue of energy efficiency increase in operation process of enterprises, to find out and  reward the companies, intensively introducing energy saving and energy efficiency technologies. During four months from the moment of start up of the contest, IES-Holding companies implemented a range of measures aimed at development of energy consumption culture. In regions were IES operates seminars for consumers, energy efficiency classes for children were held on a regular basis. The "Energy Saving Basics" textbook was published in Yekaterinburg and "Energy Effective Buses" routes were launched in Samara, Saratov and Ulyanovsk.

The winners of the contest were determined from the consumers of heat and electric power in each region were IES-Holding is presented upon the consumption results of 2008. The jury included not only IES representatives but also representatives of regional authorities, regulating authorities, mass-media, environmental organizations and industry experts.

The most energy inefficient consumers also were not passed over by the organizers. They were awarded anti-prizes the "Energy Vampires of the Year". In 13 out of 15 cases the anti-prizes were won by utility companies.