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Johnson Controls: Florida Student Wins National Sustainability Competition Sponsored by Johnson Controls

^{Published on 2009-05-28 07:16:48, Last Modified on 2009-05-28 07:17:58 - Market Wire}
 

MILWAUKEE, WI--(Marketwire - May 28, 2009) - Olivia Horne, a fourth grader at PVPV Rawlings Elementary School in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla., is the national elementary-school winner of the 2009 [ Igniting Creative Energy Challenge ] (ICE), sponsored by [ Johnson Controls ], Inc. (NYSE: [ JCI ]).

In its eighth year, ICE is an educational competition that encourages students to develop ways to live a more sustainable life and protect the environment. In addition to three national student winners (high-school, middle-school and elementary-school), there is one national teacher winner.

Olivia learned that she won during a surprise announcement in her classroom on May 21. Representatives of Johnson Controls, school officials, and Olivia's parents were on hand to congratulate her.

"[ Sustainability ] is top of mind today more than ever, especially during these tough economic times," said Gwenn McDaniel, director of K-12 markets with [ Johnson Controls Building Efficiency division ]. "Consumers are realizing that in addition to significant long-term benefits for our environment, conserving energy saves money. It's never been more important to implement programs like ICE so students are empowered to develop actionable energy solutions that could someday change the world."

The Challenge asks students to submit projects that showcase creative ways to be more sustainable today, whether at home, school or in the community. Olivia created a video titled "Extreme Lunch Makeover," which highlights how to create an eco-friendly lunch. She also designed custom lunch bags called E.L.S.E. Bags (Eco-Friendly Lunches Save Energy for our Environment) to encourage classmates to reduce environmental waste.

Olivia won an all-expense paid trip to the Energy Efficiency Forum in Washington, D.C., June 15-16, 2009. In Washington, she will share her Challenge entry and other energy efficiency ideas with government and energy leaders. The Forum is a national event that promotes energy efficiency through the presentation of national and worldwide views and the resulting impact on the environment, national security and economic growth.

Each year, the Igniting Creative Energy Challenge is open to all students in grades K-12 in the United States and Canada. Students are asked to submit entries that reflect the competition theme, Igniting Creative Energy, and demonstrate an understanding of what an individual, family, or group can do now to make a difference in the places they live or travel.

The contest is sponsored and funded through a grant by Johnson Controls, Inc., with additional support and administration from the [ National Energy Foundation ].

The winning entries for 2009 will be posted at [ www.ignitingcreativeenergy.org ]. There results will also be posted at the National Energy Foundation ([ www.nef1.org ]) and Johnson Controls Web sites ([ www.johnsoncontrols.com/efficiencynow ]).

About National Energy Foundation

The National Energy Foundation is a unique 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to the development, dissemination, and implementation of supplementary educational materials, programs and courses that relate primarily to energy, water, natural resources, science and math, technology, conservation and the environment. These teaching resources recognize the importance and contribution of natural resources to our economy, our national security, the environment and our quality of life.

About Johnson Controls

Johnson Controls, Inc. (NYSE: [ JCI ]) is the global leader that brings ingenuity to the places where people live, work and travel. By integrating technologies, products and services, we create smart environments that redefine the relationships between people and their surroundings. Our team of 140,000 employees creates a more comfortable, safe and sustainable world through our products and services for more than 200 million vehicles, 12 million homes and one million commercial buildings. Our commitment to sustainability drives our environmental stewardship, good corporate citizenship in our workplaces and communities, and the products and services we provide to customers. For additional information, please visit [ http://www.johnsoncontrols.com/ ].