CONTACT:

Ty Stark
Marketing and Communications Assistant, NEF
Ph: 800-616-8326 Fax: 801-908-5400
E-Mail: ty@nef1.org

NEF Invites Students to Develop Creative Energy Projects
Winners of national competition win educational trip to Hawaii, chance to meet national leaders

Kindergarten through 12th grade students across America are being called on by the Igniting Creative Energy Challenge to design and share innovative ways to make a difference in energy conservation and the environment.
Igniting Creative Energy is a partnership program developed by National Energy Foundation and Johnson Controls. The challenge is an annual competition that encourages students to learn more about energy and the environment. It is funded through an educational grant by Johnson Controls with additional support from Philips and the United States Energy Association.

2008 marks the seventh annual competition, which provides national winners with valuable educational experiences that include a trip to Hawaii and a chance to meet national leaders and energy policymakers in Washington, D.C.

"It's vital to instill in students the idea that they can creatively contribute to conserving natural resources,” National Energy Foundation President Bob Poulson says. “It results in improved leadership, character development and service to others, not to mention a better environment."

Students are asked to submit entries that demonstrate an understanding of what an individual, family or group can do in their home, school or community to conserve energy and help the environment. Students are encouraged to express their ideas in any creative form such as science projects, essays, stories, artwork, photographs, music, videos, web site projects, etc. They may also submit recent service projects.

"Students play an important role in using energy resources wisely, which reinforces our business of providing smart energy solutions," said C. David Myers, president, Building Efficiency, Johnson Controls. "As we introduce this year's Challenge, we continue to be impressed by the enthusiasm and ingenuity students and teachers exhibit in demonstrating ways to preserve the environment and conserve energy."

New for this year, Philips Lighting Company, along with sister Lighting Electronics division, Advance, and Philips Medical division, will be sponsoring an additional opportunity for students to ignite their creative energy. Students submitting the most creative entries related to the field of lighting will be eligible to win a prize package that includes a special gift for the student as well as an energy-efficient lighting upgrade for a designated area within his or her school.

"Energy-efficient lighting represents an outstanding way to significantly reduce energy consumption and costs and enhance sustainability," Jim Hunter, Philips Lighting vice president of strategic marketing says. "We are delighted to expand our support of the Challenge by inviting students to explore initiatives in lighting and to help further promote sustainable practices and environmentally-sound behavior."

Contest Rules and Prizes

The Challenge is open to all students in grades K-12 in the U.S. and Canada, excluding Quebec. All entries are due by January 31, 2008, and winners will be announced on or about March 6, 2008.
Official rules about the contest and a downloadable entry form can be found at the official Challenge Web site, http://www.ignitingcreativeenergy.org/.

A total of four grand prizes will be awarded to three students and one teacher. Three students, one in each grade cluster, whose work best addresses the Challenge criteria, will receive a hosted trip to Hawaii March 26-30, 2008 for themselves and a parent or legal guardian. In addition, one teacher with the highest average score of student work from 15 or more qualifying entries will be chosen for a trip for two to Hawaii for the same fun and educational experience.

While in Hawaii, winners will experience the educational trip of a lifetime. This journey will include visits to a volcano, tropical forests, and Hawaii's famous beaches. Winners will also participate in the national Energy Efficiency Forum in Washington, D.C., June 10-11, 2008, where they will share their Challenge entries and ideas with government and energy leaders.

In addition to the national winners, the highest scoring student in each state and province will receive special recognition and a prize package including $1,000 for his or her school and an award for the student.
National Energy Foundation is a unique 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to the development, dissemination, and implementation of supplementary educational materials, programs and courses that relate primarily to energy, water, natural resources, science and math, technology, conservation and the environment. These teaching resources recognize the importance and contribution of natural resources to our economy, to our national security, the environment and our quality of life.

United States Energy Association is composed of approximately 150 public and private energy-related organizations, corporations and government agencies. It represents the United States in the World Energy Council.

Royal Philips Electronics of the Netherlands (NYSE: PHG)(NYSE: AEX:)(NYSE: PHI) is a global leader in healthcare, lifestyle and technology, delivering products, services and solutions through the brand promise of "sense and simplicity". Headquartered in the Netherlands, Philips employs approximately 125,800 employees in more than 60 countries worldwide. With sales of EUR 27 billion in 2006, the company is a market leader in medical diagnostic imaging and patient monitoring systems, energy efficient lighting solutions, personal care and home appliances, as well as consumer electronics. News from Philips is located at http://www.philips.com/newscenter.

Johnson Controls (NYSE: JCI) is the global leader that brings ingenuity to the places where people live, work and travel. By integrating technologies, products and services, we create smart environments that redefine the relationships between people and their surroundings. Our team of 140,000 employees creates a more comfortable, safe and sustainable world through our products and services for more than 200 million vehicles, 12 million homes and one million commercial buildings. For additional information, please visit http://www.johnsoncontrols.com/.

National Energy Foundation is a unique 501 (c) 3 non-profit organization dedicated to promoting and cultivating an energy literate society through educational programs. NEF recognizes the importance and contribution of natural resources to our economy, national security, environment and quality of life. Visit www.nef1.org to find out more about NEF.

###