GLOBE-Net, June 20, 2012- When Eden Full (pictured left and below) started to work on her design for the SunSaluter, a low-cost, non-electrical solar panel rotating tracker, she was not trying to change the world.  

The Calgary-born and -raised student wanted to solve a problem that she thought needed a fresh idea and a new approach. She was trying to solve an electrification problem by using solar technology to provide energy for people living in areas with no electricity. 

Nor did she ever imagine that one day she would be holding a GLOBE Award for Environmental Excellence. But that is exactly what has happened, and today her invention may indeed help change the world. 

Eden is the founder & CEO of Roseicollis Technologies Inc. and winner of the inaugural Next Gen Entrepreneur Award.  Eden's company is implementing the SunSaluter that optimizes the output of individual solar panels by up to 40%.  The SunSaluter has been deployed in two pilot projects in Kenya, and may be implemented in Peru and southern India next year.

In terms of what motivated Eden to pursue her vision, in her own words "I believe that positive human impact should be the core value of every venture, which is why I founded Roseicollis Technologies Inc. I realized that there needed to be a way to take the inventions I created in my basement and apply them into the real world in order to have impact." 

David Helliwell, co-founder and CEO of Vancouver-based Pulse Energy nurtured a similar vision in that he wanted to help companies meet their energy needs more efficiently. Like Eden, David faced a series of challenges in growing his small company to where it is today. 

Pulse Energy was the 2012 winner of the GLOBE Award for Technology Innovation and Application for the success of its Energy Manager software.

Samuel Wind, Pulse's Marketing Coordinator notes "when I joined Pulse Energy, one of my first tasks was to research and submit our company's application for a GLOBE Award. The process helped me gain a deeper respect and knowledge of how far we have come since 2006, through documenting the challenges and evolution of a start-up greentech company." 

Not all GLOBE Award winners are small start up companies. Canadian Tire, winner of the 2012 GLOBE Award for Best Green Retailing Practices, is a national retail chain that employs thousands and reaches out to Canadians from coast to coast. Yet the same spirit of innovation that motivated Eden Full and David Helliwell to strive to make a difference is present in this retail giant. 

"When I think about the kinds of projects and programs we're working on, I am truly proud to say that I am part of such an innovative and motivated team," says Stéphanie Biderre, Financial Analyst in Business Sustainability. 

"Whether it is an employee-led program to reduce waste at our distribution centres, a major cross-functional undertaking to revolutionize how we transport products across the country or using the latest technologies to build more energy-efficient stores, the work I do to capture and analyze the results of these programs keeps me inspired and makes me excited to go to office every morning." 

"I believe Canadian Tire is truly leading the way in the industry and it is very inspiring to work for a company that has embraced sustainability as part of its core strategy to generate 'shared value' with customers and the community." 

From Corporate Environmental Excellence to Excellence in Urban Sustainability, from Technology Innovation and Application to Best Green Retailing Practices, or from Excellence in Emerging Technology to the Next Gen Entrepreneur, all winners have something to say as to how they are affected personally by what their company does. 

"When I found out the GLOBE Foundation had accepted our application, I was really excited just to have made the cut given the impressive list of nominees," says Pulse Energy's Samuel Wind. "When we ended up winning the Award for Technology Innovation and Application for the Pulse Energy Manager software, I was thrilled to learn that others saw this need, and recognized our years of hard work." 

Samuel confides that "winning the GLOBE Award was a source of pride for our whole company." "It's easy to lose sight of the big picture when you're concentrating on the details of your daily work," he adds.  "The Award reminded us all that the company and products we are building can have an impact on the big issues facing the planet today."

That same sense of pride prevails in Canadian Tire. "Canadian Tire's business sustainability team works hard day in and day out with our colleagues in operations in hopes that by integrating sustainable practices and technologies into our business we will inspire our partners, customers and colleagues to do the same," says Stéphanie Biderre.  

The GLOBE Awards highlight the achievements of extraordinary companies and people who have shown an exceptional ability to balance competitive strategies and sustainable development.

"Driven from the highest levels of the company, business sustainability at Canadian Tire is an innovation strategy where sustainability objectives are integrated into operating plans and overall business objectives.  As a result, we completed over 400 initiatives last year alone!" she adds proudly.

But the road to excellence is not an easy journey and often involves failure, frustration and personal agony.

"I work on the SunSaluter because I care very deeply about appropriate technologies that fill the gap between developed and developing countries, but there's more," says Eden Full. "Part of the reason I pursue the SunSaluter is to prove to myself - and others along the way so they will be inspired too - that anyone who cares enough can make a difference," she adds. 

"The fact that you have failed - or are in the process of failing - means nothing as long as you choose not to let that get in your way." 

That is what the GLOBE Awards are all about - celebrating the achievements of people and companies that are making a difference, because their efforts are what can make the world a better place. 

Applications for the 2013 edition of the GLOBE Awards for Environmental Excellence are now being accepted. Deadline for entries will be February 15, 2013 with finalists announced on March 18 and winners on March 29, 2013. 

Six categories are in competition for the 2013 edition:

• The Award for Corporate Environmental Excellence
• The Award for Excellence in Emerging Technology
• The Award for Technology Innovation and Application
• The Award for Excellence in Urban Sustainability
• The Award for Best Green Consumer Product
• and The Next Gen Entrepreneur Award

Submission requirements and criteria for each category are available on the GLOBE Awards website. 

All finalists will receive extensive media coverage and recognition through our media partners. They will also receive prominent placement on the GLOBE Awards and GLOBE-Net websites.

For more information, visit the GLOBE Awards website and sign up to receive updates.