The annual Sustainable Energy Europe Awards that reward best-in-class initiatives to promote renewable energy or energy efficiency, is still opened to entries. The Awards Ceremony is one highlight of EU Sustainable Energy Week that will take place in Brussels and across Europe between 18 and 22 June 2012.

The Sustainable Energy Europe Awards annual competition is still opened to entries until next 29 of February. The projects subject to the competition can be submitted to three categories. The Commission highlights that in order to find the right category it is needed to strip the project down to its most critical essence, determine the core of its idea and define its primary value. If the project seems to belong to more than one category, it is possible to submit it to several categories. In 2011 the Awards were given to six European projects.

The Communicating category is for projects which can create awareness, change the perception and bring about endorsement of energy efficiency and/or renewable energy via targeted and professionally carried out communication activities. Examples are TV clips ore advertising campaigns. Projects under Consuming category are designed to guide, and help manage and reduce our energy consumption – be it directly or indirectly. Examples: intelligent energy metering schemes, consumer guides and websites, energy savings competitions, green procurement, etc. Finally, the Learning category is for projects carried out to improve knowledge and skills related to energy efficiency and renewables. They are usually carried out by official training and education bodies, such as schools, universities, training centres etc. Examples: energy education at primary and secondary schools, professional training, scholarship programmes, etc.

The winners will be announced on 19 June 2012 at the Sustainable Energy Europe Awards Ceremony 2012 that will take place in Brussels during the EU Sustainable Energy Week. In addition, this year the Sustainable Energy Europe Awards 2012 ceremony will host the annual Managenergy Local Energy Action Award. Targeting energy actors at the local and regional level, it rewards some of the most outstanding sustainable energy projects, completed or on-going.