Inco wins energy efficiency award

Inco has won an award from the federal government for reducing greenhouse gases and conserving evergy at its operations in Copper Cliff, Ont.

The reductions were achieved as a result of ideas submitted by the 500-plus employees working at the smelter in Sudbury, Ont. The employees were asked to suggest ways to improve all aspects of the operations, from plant processes to working environments.

Many ideas were simple and easy to implement. For instance, one area of the plant was heated around the clock, resulting in nearly $20,000 in savings per year.

The company plans to expand the program to other operations worldwide.

The awards are part of the Climate Change Action Plan for Canada, which is committed to ensuring Canada meets its greenhouse gas reduction target under the Kyoto Protocol.

CBC Radio’s Quirks and Quarks program also won an award, for airing a documentary on clean coal.