The prestigious ENERGY GLOBE Award, considered one of the most significant environmental awards today, highlights innovative solutions from over 180 countries worldwide. It is awarded annually to initiatives that contribute to environmental protection through individual actions, sustainable projects, or awareness campaigns promoting sustainability. The main partner of the Energy Globe is Advantage Austria, which oversees the presentation of national awards.
International ENERGY GLOBE Award Recognizes Sustainable Innovation
The award was ceremoniously presented to Ekoenergia Civic Association on February 13, 2025, at Bioclimatic Park Drienová. The award was handed over by Bettina Trojer, Commercial Counsellor of the Austrian Embassy in Slovakia, who emphasized the project’s importance in education and raising awareness about sustainable practices and simple measures crucial for climate restoration.
Bettina Trojer, Commercial Counsellor, Austrian Embassy in Slovakia / Advantage Austria: “We are delighted to witness the results of your years of work at Bioclimatic Park and the outcomes of the CLIMA BEST project, which earned you the Energy Globe Slovakia award. The entire OZ Ekoenergia team has achieved remarkable progress, establishing a center that stands as an excellent example of teamwork, expertise, enthusiasm, perseverance, and an active approach to environmental protection and addressing bioclimatic challenges. We appreciate that you passionately share your experience, particularly with the younger generation, inspiring them to adopt a sustainable approach to nature.”
The event included a tour of Bioclimatic Park Drienová, where guests observed implemented measures. Among the distinguished attendees were Erika Jurinová, President of the Žilina Self-Governing Region, and Peter Hanus, Mayor of Rajec, who acknowledged the significance of Ekoenergia’s activities for the region and expressed support for further environmental initiatives. Congratulations were also extended by Michal Holubčík, Vice-Dean for Scientific Research at the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, University of Žilina.
This event was not only a celebration of success but also an opportunity to expand meaningful initiatives in the region. The Žilina Self-Governing Region considers such measures a priority for ensuring sustainable development and improving the quality of life for residents. Through the organization Energo – Eko – Služby, the region is systematically advancing support for projects focused on energy savings, building energy efficiency, and energy security. Austrian Embassy representatives began their regional visit at the headquarters of this organization in Žilina, fostering collaboration for Austrian-Slovak innovation initiatives.
The event concluded with an official lunch featuring organic products from Bioclimatic Park Drienová, prepared by the head chef of Penzión Hromada in Rajecká Lesná.
Thanks to this award, Ekoenergia Civic Association is now eligible to compete on a global stage at the Energy Globe World Awards, set to be held in April 2025. Wish us luck!
The Energy Globe Award is a global initiative for sustainability
The Energy Globe Award is a prestigious platform that recognizes exceptional projects from around the world focused on the conservation of natural resources, the use of renewable energy, and environmental education. The award is presented by the Energy Globe Foundation, based in Austria, and the winners are selected by an international jury chaired by Maneka Gandhi. The competition, which in 2024 attracted over 2,000 projects from 141 countries, provides us with the opportunity to showcase our work on an international level. We are pleased that this platform also inspires individuals and communities to actively engage in environmental initiatives.
The „Energy Globe“ – The World Award for Sustainability – is today’s most renowned environmental prize worldwide, as established by the American agency Arthur D. Little in a survey. All projects protecting our environment may be submitted .
The Energy Globe Award is presented in the categories of Life: Earth, Fire, Water, Air, the future-oriented category Youth and a yearly special category. Goal of the award is the presentation of innovative and sustainable projects to a broad global audience as there are many great and implemented solutions to most of our environmental problems available.
The jury was impressed by the measures for climate recovery
Our project Clima Best – Best Practices for a Better Climate was recognized in the prestigious international competition. The project was implemented under the program “Mitigation and Adaptation to Climate Change” (SK-CLIMATE), carried out within the framework of the European Economic Area Financial Mechanism and the Norway Grants in Slovakia for the period 2014–2021.
The goal of the CLIMA BEST project was to inform, inspire, and mobilize the public and various target groups to adopt simple and effective measures for climate recovery in their daily lives.
At the Bioclimatic Park Drienová, practical and straightforward climate recovery measures were publicly demonstrated. These were complemented by a variety of informational activities, including workshops on water for the climate, solar-powered e-bike rides, festivals of land and climate, practical seminars on clean heating, and guided tours showcasing nature-friendly measures in the field.
More than 2,400 participants gained practical experience or acquired new knowledge about protecting and restoring the climate. The activities targeted a wide audience, including students, representatives of public administration, the private sector, and nonprofit organizations.
An important part of the project was the Slovak-Norwegian bilateral exchange of experiences within the project partnership between the Civic Association Ekoenergia and the Slovak Environmental Agency – Department of Environmental Education, Training, and Awareness, as well as Norwegian experts from International Development Norway and The Energy Farm International Foundation.
