At its June 18 and 19th 2001 Annual Meeting the IDEA presented Cornell Universitys Utilities Department their 2001 System of the Year award. By an overwhelmingly unanimous vote, the Cornell campus chilled water (including Lake Source Cooling), central steam, and cogeneration (central heat and power) systems were recognized as the outstanding systems in the district energy industry in 2001.
Created in 1992, the International District Energy Association System of the Year Award is intended to recognize the outstanding district energy system which exemplifies a high level of performance in providing energy service and which furthers the goals of the district energy industry. The award serves to:
- Provide an industry benchmark for overall excellence
- Provide a platform for sharing ideas and efforts that have made systems successful
- Identify and recognize systems that illustrate the overall importance of district energy in the marketplace and in the long-term energy picture.
- Farther publicize district energy as a progressive industry that seeks constant improvement in the services it provides.
Criteria for judging systems
1. System energy efficiency
2. reliability and availability
3. environmental benefits and compliance strategy
4. employee safety and training programs
5. customer relations, service improvements, communications and marketing
6. involvement in the community and professional organizations
