The Department of Economic Development would like to remind all those interested in entering the Energy Champion Awards to submit their entries before the submission deadline on Thursday 21st April 2011. The Department urges all businesses and Government Departments, who have undertaken energy saving projects, reduced their energy consumption or improved their energy efficiency to enter to be in with a chance of being recognised as an award winning Energy Champion. No matter how large or small the project your business or Department has undertaken please submit your entries, you might have introduced new practices or simply made noticeable savings on your energy consumption. Further details and application forms can be obtained by visiting: http://www.gov.im/ded/Energy/energychampionshome.xml. With ever increasing fuel prices, initiatives such as the Energy Champion Awards assists businesses in receiving recognition for their efforts to keep their costs down and ultimately enabling them to increase their profits at the same time as reducing their carbon footprint. A ceremony for the Energy Champion winners will take place at 4pm on Friday 6th May 2011 at the Isle of Man College, forming part of the opening of the Energy Expo 2011. Minister for Economic Development, Allan Bell MHK commented: “I encourage local businesses and other Government Departments to enter the Energy Champion Awards. This is an excellent opportunity for recognising achievements in the implementation of new working practices and energy efficiency savings.” Mrs Clare Christian, Department Member with responsibility for Energy added: “I am pleased to see how the Energy Champion Awards are encouraging businesses and Government Departments to look more closely at their energy consumption and general working practices. In the current economic climate, the greater the savings that can be made on general running costs for businesses the greater their overall profits, which in turn benefit the economy as a whole and encourage expansion and growth within the Island.” - Ends -