Windsave Limited is being tipped for European success after being chosen as the UK entry into the prestigious European Business Awards for the Environment 2006 (EBAE).

The company beat eleven other British finalists to win a place in the prestigious awards. Windsave will compete in the product category against two other companies - one is Spanish and the other Austrian. Companies from 23 European countries have engaged in the 2006 edition of the European Business Awards for the Environment and a total of 139 entries were submitted for competition in this year’s awards. This is the highest number of entries submitted in the history of the European Business Awards for the Environment, which were launched in 1987 under the name European Better Awards for Industry, and is an indication of businesses’ growing interest in taking care of the environment.

The EBAE is administered in the UK by the Royal Society for the encouragement of arts, manufactures and commerce (RSA) and DEFRA. Defra works with the RSA Environmental Awards Forum to help provide information, guidance and advice about the benefits of environmental awards and guidance on entering the European scheme, Simon Fordham of the RSA said: "We are delighted that Windsave is going to represent the UK in the European Awards. Innovative products such as this wind turbine system will raise awareness of environmental best practice that is being created in the UK, and we wish them well.”

He continues “Participation in the awards can form part of a wider effort and can help raise awareness of the need for better environmental performance by business and industry, promote the environmental achievements of business both in the UK and overseas and link to other environmental and sustainable development issues such as Government initiatives on sustainable consumption and production, resource efficiency, climate change, greenhouse gas emissions, waste and water. “

The company has been chosen after its success through an RSA accredited feeder scheme - specifically the VIBES awards (Vision in Business for the Environment of Scotland). Windsave was formed in January 2002 to develop a commercial and domestic small wind turbine generator system using low wind speeds to create electricity. It has developed a supplementary micro-turbine electricity generator using their innovative "Plug'n'Save(™)" system to deliver electricity directly into the ring main. David Gordon of Windsave said: "To be the only UK company nominated for this award is a tremendous accolade for an ambitious company with global aspirations".

The EBAE’s jury, after selecting Windsave Ltd as a nominee for the Product award, commented “The jury appreciates the compact integrated solution and relationship with other technologies. These compact windmills are manufactured from recycled materials with a long life cycle and are designed for individual houses and offices. There is a high potential for decentralised small scale applications. In contradiction to the general development of large scale windmills, which goes more and more into large windmills – with more and more resistance - these windmills are affordable and have a noise level below ambient levels.”

The Windsave wind turbine system is roof- or wall-mounted and feeds electricity into the property on the consumer side of the meter, reducing the consumption of electricity purchased from the Grid. Windsave provides an environmentally-friendly, low-cost source of sustainable energy, providing an opportunity for every property, residential and commercial, in Britain to play a part in the Green Revolution. The company was built on the ethos that, while many people have the desire to protect the environment, the challenge lay in how to turn that desire into action. By developing micro-wind generation combined with the Plug'n'Save(™) electrical feed technology, towns, cities and rural communities now have the potential to become important contributors to the country's overall energy requirements.

The EBAE are awarded every two years and aim to recognise and reward European companies which set an example by successfully bringing together innovation, economic viability and environmental concerns. The scheme comprises four award categories in which companies are rewarded for management practices, products, processes or international co-operation activities which contribute to economic and social development without detriment to the environment.

To be eligible for competition in the European Business Awards for the Environment, companies first have to succeed in the national award schemes which are organised throughout Europe every year. This means that the companies awarded the European prize are ‘the best of the best’; the most far-sighted, responsible and innovative across Europe. Participation is open to companies from all EU member states and the candidate countries Bulgaria, Romania and Turkey. The submission of entries to the European level awards competition is managed by national coordinating bodies.

UK companies can gain eligibility through success via UK feeder schemes, details of which can be found at www.defra.gov.uk/environment/internat/euroawards/

An independent panel of 12 jurors from across Europe met in Vienna, Austria, in February. The jury consists of representatives from industry, NGOs, academia and the public authorities. All jury members have environmental matters as their field of expertise. During a two-day meeting chaired by Heinz Felsner, CEO of KPI Consult (CH) and one of the founding fathers of the Austrian Business Council for Sustainable Development, the jury assessed and evaluated the entries submitted for the awards in 2006 and short-listed three companies in each of the four award categories. The four categories are: The Management Award for Sustainable Development – which recognises the important role of a management systems approach in delivering continuous improvements in environmental performance.

The Product Award for Sustainable Development – which recognises how the careful design of products and services can promote sustainable consumption and create new business opportunities.

The Process Award for Sustainable Development – which recognises the important role of research and innovation in developing sustainable production technologies that deliver environmental, economic and social benefits.

The International Partnership Award for Sustainable Development – which acknowledges the global dimension of sustainable development and the important role to be played by international cross-sectoral alliances.

Of the twelve nominees, four winners – one in each category – will be presented at a prestigious award ceremony to be held in Brussels in June. The award ceremony coincides with and is organised as part of the European Commission’s Green Week running from 30 May to 2 June 2006. Green Week is the EC’s major annual environmental conference and exhibition event in Brussels. The four-day event, focusing this year on biodiversity, comprises discussions, workshops, an exhibition and the award ceremony.

More information on Green Week is available at europa.eu.int/comm/environment/greenweek/index.html