MILWAUKEE, WI -- (Marketwire) -- 12/14/09 -- Johnson Controls (NYSE: JCI) Building Efficiency business unit, the global leader in providing energy efficiency solutions for buildings, announces its ninth annual Igniting Creative Energy (ICE) Challenge, where students throughout North America can win a trip to Washington, D.C., $1,000 for their school, or other prizes by submitting their energy ideas.

ICE is a program developed by Johnson Controls and the National Energy Foundation to challenge students to think about creative ideas that save energy and help conserve the environment. Students from kindergarten to 12th grade are encouraged to submit projects highlighting what people can do in their home, school or community to be more energy efficient and become better stewards of the environment.

"The ICE challenge reinforces that students play an important role in using energy resources wisely," said Gwenn McDaniel, K-12 solutions sales director, Johnson Controls. "The program broadens environmental stewardship from the corporate level to the student level by engaging youth to develop creative ideas to make a long-term impact on their communities."

Since 2002, more than 13,000 students have participated in this competition on both a state and national level. This year, students that submit qualifying projects postmarked by the early bird deadline of January 31, 2010 will be eligible to win one of dozens of prizes that promote the importance of energy efficiency and sustainability.

Prizes awarded for student, teacher and state winners

National winners include three students and one teacher who will each be awarded one of four grand prize trips to the United States Energy Efficiency Forum (EEF) in Washington, D.C. where they will share their winning projects with national leaders and energy policymakers. Established in 1990 and co-sponsored by Johnson Controls and the United States Energy Association, EEF aims to advance energy efficiency issues as part of a broader campaign to raise energy awareness.

The ICE challenge also recognizes individual state winners in states with more than 25 qualifying entries. State winners will receive local recognition and a $1,000 grant to their school on the student's behalf.

Students may choose to express their ideas in any creative format including science projects, essays, stories, artwork, photographs, music, videos, Web-based applications and multimedia projects. Recent service projects may also be submitted.

Bob Poulson, president of the National Energy Foundation, adds, "The Igniting Creative Energy Challenge aligns with our mission to cultivate and promote future energy leaders. It provides participants an opportunity to make a positive impact in their communities through environmental and energy awareness."

National winning entries from previous years include:

-- Extreme Lunch Makeover, a video created by Olivia Horne, a 4th grader from Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla., illustrates how students can create eco-friendly lunches using custom bags and recyclable products to reduce environmental waste.

-- The P.E.A.C.E. (Protecting Everyone And our Cool Earth) Campaign by Maddie Reichman, a 6th grader from Salt Lake City, Utah, encourages students and the community to keep blankets in their cars instead of idling to stay warm and reduce pollution.

-- It's a Beautiful World, a song written and recorded by Wesley Fulkerson, an 11th grader from San Diego, Calif., encourages people to make simple life changes to conserve energy.

Contest Rules and Prizes

The ICE challenge is open to all students in grades K-12 in the U.S. and Canada, excluding Quebec. All entries must be postmarked by February 19, 2010. Winners will be announced the week of March 15, 2010.

A total of four grand prizes will be awarded to three students and one teacher. One student in each grade cluster whose work best addresses the challenge criteria will receive a trip to Washington, D.C. for himself or herself and a parent or legal guardian. The teacher with the highest average score of student work from 15 or more qualifying entries will also receive a trip to Washington. Winners will share their winning projects and ideas with government and energy leaders during the 21st Annual Energy Efficiency Forum, June 15-16, 2010 at the National Press Club.

In addition to the national winners, the highest scoring student in each state or province with more than 25 entries will be recognized. Schools may also be eligible to receive a $1,000 U.S. charitable donation to help beautify the school, educate students, or impact the community.

Official rules about the contest and a downloadable entry form can be found at http://www.ignitingcreativeenergy.org.

All qualifying entries postmarked by the early submission date of January 31, 2010 will qualify for prizes that promote energy efficiency and sustainability. Early bird winners will be selected through random drawings to start on or around March 1, 2010. The early bird prize descriptions, drawing schedule, and winners will be posted each week beginning in March while supplies last at http://www.ignitingcreativeenergy.org.

About Johnson Controls

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 130,000 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. Our commitment to sustainability drives our environmental stewardship, good corporate citizenship in our workplaces and communities, and the products and services we provide to customers. For additional information, please visit http://www.johnsoncontrols.com/.

About the National Energy Foundation

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.

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