The American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE) recently recognized 90 of America's leading energy efficiency programs in twenty different categories, including many from the Pacific Northwest. The awards were announced Oct. 3 at ACEEE’s 4th annual conference on energy efficiency in Berkeley, Calif.

Portland-based Ecos Consulting Inc. was among the award winners, taking a prize for its work with four western utilities on energy conservation. Working with Arizona Public Service, Puget Sound Energy, PacifiCorp's Rocky Mountain Power and Sierra Pacific and Nevada Power to develop and implement successful energy efficiency programs, Ecos helped the utilities save more than 2 million megawatt-hours.

The Energy Trust of Oregon received an award for its New Buildings program and received an honorable mention for its Production Efficiency program while Portland-based Pacific Power received an award for its commercial and industrial retrofit programs. The Eugene Electric & Water Board was recognized for its exemplary energy management programs.