In recognition of the private sector’s effort to promote and implement energy conservation programs, the Don Emilio Abello Energy Efficiency Awards are presented to private companies that make significant improvements in their energy consumption patterns.

According to the Philippine Department of Energy (2010), “the awards are given to outstanding companies and energy managers who have undertaken or are responsible in implementing energy efficiency and conservation programs to achieve substantial savings in their energy consumption.”

The Award is granted during the National Energy Consciousness Month Celebration every December.

For aspiring candidates for the DEAEEA, Sec. Cusi clarified that "Companies are required to submit their energy consumption reports which will be subsequently deliberated by the DEAEEA Technical Evaluation Committee." The DEAEEA Technical Evaluation Committee with representations from the DOE, Philippine National Oil Company, National Power Corporation, Manila Electric Company (MERALCO), Petron Corporation, Chevron Philippines Incorporated, Pilipinas Shell Petroleum Corporation, Energy Efficiency Practitioners Association of the Philippines, Philippine Energy Conservation Center Incorporated and Energy Development and Utilization Foundation Incorporated rigorously evaluates the energy consumption reports of the recipients of the DEAEEA following a set of guidelines and criteria.

Don Emilio Abello was the Father of the Energy Conservation Movement in the Philippines which he initiated in 1973 in the middle of the oil crises caused by the OPEC oil embargo and the overnight increase in oil prices when he was then the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of MERALCO.
Enercon, then, became a national byword, an integral part of the academic curriculum, a performance guideline in commercial, industrial and transport enterprises and for every Filipino, a new life style and a new ethic. After Abello's death in 1982, the Enercon Movement named its annual recognition program after him, thus the Don Emilio Abello Energy Conservation Awards. It was renamed to Don Emilio Abello Energy Efficiency Awards in July 1997 to align with the country's shifting the industry to more energy conserving technologies and addressing the issue of environmental preservation.

The 2016 Don Emilio Abello Energy Efficiency Awards were given to the following establishments:

• Central Azucarera Don Pedro, Inc.
• CitiCenter Condominium Corporation
• SMC Yamamura Fuso Molds Corporation
• San Miguel Yamamura Packaging Corporation-Canlubang PET & Caps Plant
• Hawaiian-Philippine Company
• San Miguel Yamamura Packaging Corporation-San Fernando Beverage Packaging Plant
• San Miguel Brewery, Inc.-Mandaue Brewery
• San Miguel Yamamura Packaging Corporation-Manila Plastic Plant
• SM Cyber Makati One
• TriNoma Mall
• IBM Philippines, Inc.-Building J UP AyalaLand Technohub
• Greenbelt 5
• DOLE Philippines-Calumpang Operations
• San Miguel Yamamura Packaging Corporation-Metal Closure and Lithography Plan San Fernando
• San Miguel Yamamura Packaging Corporation-Cebu Glass Plant
• DOLE Philippines, Inc.-Polomolok Cannery Complex
• Pavilion Mall-Binan
• Nestle Philippines, Inc.-Cabuyao, Laguna
• ON Semiconductor SSMP Philippines Corporation
• Shell Shared Service (Asia) B.V
• BPI-Philam Life Makati
• San Miguel Yamamura Packaging Corp-Cebu Beverage Packaging Plant
• Maynilad Water Services, Inc.-La Mesa Treatment Plan 2
• Hawaiian-Philippine Company
• ON Semiconductor Philippines, Inc.- Carmona Plant
• SM City North Edsa-Annex
• Asurion-Techlog Center Philippines
• B/E Aerospace BV-Philippine Branch
• Glorietta 4
• Centrio Mall
• Central Azucarera Don Pedro, Inc.
• Canon Business Machines (Philippines) Inc.
• CitiCenter Condominium Corporation
• Marco Polo Ortigas Hotel
• SMC Yamamura Fuso Molds Corporation

Citation Awards were given for the following establishments:

• Coca-cola FEMSA Philippines-Canlubang Plant
• One Evotech
• IBM Philippines, Inc.-Building E UP Ayalaland Technohub
• Manila Water Company, Inc.-Kingsville Pumping Station
• San Miguel Yamamura Asia Corporation
• The District Imus Mall
• Glorietta 5

Special awards were given to:

• Citibank Square Condominium Corporation
• Coca-cola FEMSA Philippines-Bacolod Plant
• Manila Water Company, Inc.- San Juan Pumping Station
• Vishay (Phils.). Inc
• Glorietta 1 BPO
• SM Cyber Makati Two
• San Miguel Brewery, Inc.-Polo Brewery
• SM Corporate Offices
• Eagle Cement Corporation
• Ibiden Philippines Inc.
• San Miguel Brewery, Inc-Davao Brewery
• Manila Water Company, Inc-Siruna Pumping Station
• Greenbelt 4