TORONTO, June 6, 2013 /CNW/ - They created new types of housing, web and mobile tracking tools and innovative design — all to help show Canadians how to use less energy and save on energy bills. Three winners of the 2013 Scotiabank EcoLiving Awards were named today for their innovations in home energy efficiency and took home $75,000 in award incentives -- the largest award of its kind in Canada. The winners were announced at a gala ceremony at the Art Gallery of Ontario, attended by some 150 guests, including leaders in innovation, clean energy technology and finance.

"Scotiabank is proud to showcase the products, services and ideas of this year's 2013 Scotiabank EcoLiving Awards winners, which show us what is possible in home energy efficiency," said Chris Hodgson, Scotiabank's Group Head of Global Wealth Management, who hosted today's red carpet event. "They raise awareness about Canadian-made solutions and innovation and show us that being sustainable is good for the environment, the marketplace and also for our wallets."

The Awards are an important part of Scotiabank's signature Canadian environmental program, EcoLiving, introduced last year to help Canadians make greener choices for their homes, reduce their energy bills and take advantage of government rebates. More information on the program is available at www.ecoliving.scotiabank.com.

More than 78 entries for the awards came from across Canada, a 28 per cent increase from the last awards. The Scotiabank EcoLiving Awards program is unique in its focus on public awareness. As part of the award criteria, applicants must demonstrate capacity to generate public interest and excitement in energy efficiency through their solutions.

The Scotiabank EcoLiving Business Leadership Award, valued at $50,000, was awarded to Lanefab Design/Build in Vancouver, British Columbia, a company that integrated the design and construction of small scale, fully independent homes with energy efficiency, design quality and scalable-sustainability, while adding density to neighborhoods and preserving existing community homes.

The Scotiabank EcoLiving Innovators Award valued at $15,000 was awarded to Quinzee from Toronto, Ontario, a company that built a web and mobile application to enable Ontarians with smart meters to be smarter homeowners. Using consumer social benchmarking as a motivator for influencing efficient energy choices and behaviours, consumers can easily track and compare their energy use for free.

The Scotiabank EcoLiving Student Leadership Award, valued at $10,000 was awarded to Benjamin Gillies, a University of Manitoba graduate who created a prototype for the FAACE (Functional, Affordable, Attractive, Compact and Efficient) apartment complex. Featuring modern design and furnishing, the complex provides compact and efficient apartments that are functional and can reduce occupants' carbon footprint.

Winners were selected by an independent judging panel including: Valerie Becaert, Executive Director of the FQRNT/FQRSC; Thomas Mueller, Founding Director of the Canada Green Building Council; Yves Perrier, Architect and Sustainable Building consultant; Ed Whittingham, Executive Director of the Pembina Institute; and Tyler Hamilton, Editor-in-Chief and associate publisher of Corporate Knights.

"Change is best lead by example, and the Scotiabank EcoLiving Awards are a crucial contribution to showcasing how home energy efficiencies are within the grasp of every Canadian," said Laurie Simmonds, CEO and President of Green Living Enterprises. "We are proud to support Scotiabank in its efforts to embolden Canadians as they pursue sustainable lifestyle choices."

Full information on the awards, all finalists, the judging panel, the gala awards ceremony and photos and videos is available exclusively on Scotiabank's EcoLiving website, http://ecoliving.scotiabank.com/awards.

About the Scotiabank EcoLiving Program
The Scotiabank EcoLiving Program launched in June 2010. The website, www.scotiabank.com/ecoliving, is a unique online consumer resource that provides home greening options together with government rebate and financial savings information all in one place - providing an easy-to-use resource for Canadians to learn about, plan and compare green home improvement options. The website includes project planning tools and a financial calculator to allow visitors to compare products and rebates, plan and finance their projects and see the savings that can result from each energy efficient renovation. The EcoLiving magazine is available twice yearly in Scotiabank branches.

About Green Living Enterprises
Green Living Enterprises is Canada's leading cause-marketing agency focused on social and environmental program development.  Our team is led by award-winning industry experts in the fields of brand and program development, custom content, advertising, marketing and communications, and event management.  Green Living Enterprises also includes Greenlivingonline.com and The Green Living Show, Canada's largest consumer show, dedicated to easy and simple solutions for leading a healthy and sustainable lifestyle.

Image with caption: "L-R: Vancouver's Lanefab Design/Build, Winnipeg student Benjamin Gillies and Toronto's Quinzee named 2013 Scotiabank EcoLiving Award winners. Photo courtesy Sam Santos/George Pimental Photography. (CNW Group/Scotiabank)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20130606_C5446_PHOTO_EN_27670.jpg

SOURCE: Scotiabank