Johnson Controls has added a water component to its 10-year-old Igniting Creative Energy (ICE) Challenge, a national competition for K-12 students. The original ICE program encourages students to share ideas about wise energy choices and environmental stewardship. The ICE Water category, new this year, adds a water education component.

ICE Water emphasizes the close connection of water and energy conservation and prompts teachers and students to integrate water with class discussions about energy and natural resources. "When we conserve water, we conserve the energy needed to pump and treat it," said Bruno Biasiotta, vice president and general manager, Energy Solutions Americas. "For the last decade, the ICE Challenge has engaged youth to think about energy efficiency. Adding water conservation enhances the learning experience for students - our future environmental leaders."

Johnson Controls is teaming with Kohler Co. on ICE Water program, which encourages youth to think about water conservation in their homes and communities. Kohler will provide technical and promotional support, and its executives will serve on the panel of judges.

Five Grand Prize winners from the ICE competitions (four students and one teacher) will travel to the 2011 United States Energy Efficiency Forum (EEF) where they will share their winning projects with national leaders and energy policymakers. Co-sponsored by Johnson Controls and the United States Energy Association, EEF aims to advance energy efficiency as part of a broader campaign to raise energy awareness. In addition to the national winners, one winner will be recognized from each state and Canadian province.

Through the Johnson Controls Blue Sky Involve program, ICE winners and their schools are encouraged to team up with a Johnson Controls employee to work on a volunteer project that protects the environment in their community. The ICE Challenge is administered by the National Energy Foundation (NEF) on behalf of Johnson Controls.

All ICE Challenge entries must be postmarked by March 4. Submissions postmarked by Feb. 18 qualify for early bird prizes. Winners will be announced in late March. For more information, visit

http://www.ignitingcreativeenergy.org.