FT/Citi Ingenuity Awards: Meet the Finalists

Meet the Finalists: Energy

Recently, Citi and the FT announced the finalists of the FT/Citi Ingenuity Awards: Urban Ideas in Action, a globally diverse and dynamic group of innovators fueling growth and economic progress in cities around the world.

Over the next few weeks, we'll share profiles of the category finalists, starting with energy below.

Check back for updates and visit Citi's Facebook page to tell us which finalist you think is the most ingenious.

FT/Citi Awards Energy Finalists:

With cities consuming more than 60% of the world's energy, meeting ever increasing power demands will require fresh thinking. Below are the five finalists who have implemented innovative solutions in energy production and usage:

City of Houston Green Office Challenge, United States
Through the Houston Green Office Challenge (GOC), participating property owners and tenants fill out score cards (covering everything from energy use, waste disposal and transportation) to receive an overall score that they can try to improve upon each year. The initiative now has 375 participants, and while other cities have GOCs of their own, Houston's remains the largest. Read more: https://on.ft.com/PKjBji

Community Cooker Foundation, Kenya
In Kibera, Kenya, innovative slum dwellers have found a unique solution to their ubiquitous waste problem. To put waste to good use, the Community Cooker Foundation built an energy efficient stove that can handle everything from frying and baking to boiling water for hot showers. Heat produced from one of the ovens saves the equivalent of 2,400 trees a year. Read more: https://on.ft.com/NL0uDA

Proterra, United States
To fight air pollution and promote cleaner fuels across Southern California, Proterra implemented an all-electric bus program called EcoRide. Unlike most other electric systems, Proterra buses only require 10 minutes to charge while previous electric systems generally took overnight. Read more: https://on.ft.com/QbLqhc

The Energy and Resources Institute, India
The Energy and Resources Institute (TeRI), a New Delhi-based sustainability research group, developed a cook stove project designed to reduce smoke levels in India's slums. By encouraging women in Hyderabad to pool their funds and increase their buying power, the project leveraged community relationships to enable purchase of the stove and also provide clean air benefits to the city. Read more: https://on.ft.com/QIv83P

Tokyo Metropolitan Government, Japan
In April 2010, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government (TMG) introduced the first mandatory emissions trading program, asking owners of office buildings under their jurisdiction to shave 8% off average electricity and gas consumption compared to any three year period between 2002 and 2007. Preliminary figures show the initiative's success, with total emissions down by 13% in the first year. Read more: https://on.ft.com/VkrGur

Find out more at www.ft.com/ingenuity.

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Read about what Citi is doing in cities at www.citiforcities.com.