Slate.com Looks to Readers and Experts for Energy Efficiency Solutions at the House of Sweden

March 11th, 2010

Craig Schattner, Alliance to Save Energy

Dan Gross may have gone into the project as a self-proclaimed ‘well-intentioned ignoramus,’ but he came out of the month-long “Efficient Life” experiment ready to put energy efficiency in practice. Weeks ago, the Slate.com writer posed a question to his readers: is there a better way for individuals to live a more energy-efficient life? To reduce their carbon footprints while at the same time reducing utilities bills?

The phrase that was liberally peppered into the expert-led conversation was ‘low-hanging fruit,’ as high-ranking U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) folks, utilities professionals and environmental writers all agreed that adopting energy efficiency into one’s daily routine is so simple that it’s difficult to find a way to communicate its simplicity. Read the rest of this entry »

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Obama talks up Home Star program at conference in Savannah, GA

March 2nd, 2010

Craig Schattner, Alliance to Save Energy

President Obama was careful not to undermine the Home Star program by referring to its adopted media name, ‘Cash for Caulkers.’ That’s because this consumer rebate program, in comparison with its automotive counterpart, isn’t simply meant to stimulate the economy while promoting energy efficiency; this one’s about creating jobs, too.

From manufacturers on down to builders, the Home Star program will infuse jobs into a lackluster building industry that has seen better days. The eye-catching figure: 25 percent unemployment among construction jobs. But here’s the good news:

In Georgia alone, where the press conference was held, Obama cited 300 transportation projects currently in the works. And to create the workforce that can do it, he’s looking to put millions more in technical colleges like the one he toured today in Savannah.

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Energy Efficiency Must Be at the Center of International Climate Change Approaches in 2010

February 24th, 2010

Lisa JacobsonLisa Jacobson, President, Business Council for Sustainable Energy

Having just returned from a meeting today with Deputy Special Envoy for Climate Change Jonathan Pershing at the U.S. State Department focused on U.S. expectations for the climate change negotiations in 2010, I wanted to reflect on the central role that energy efficiency and other existing clean energy technologies must play as we develop and implement a post-2010 international climate change agreement.

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Changing Consumer Behavior: Alliance Responds to Time Money Blog

February 19th, 2010

On February 15, 2010, Time posted an article on its Money Blog titled, “Why People Aren’t Sold on Energy Efficiency in their Homes”, in which they cited a recent Wall Street Journal article that questioned the effectiveness of home energy efficiency initiatives in Boulder, Colo.  Here is the response posted by the Alliance’s Rozanne Weissman, Senior Director of Consumer Campaign.

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Industry Leaders: Sumir Karayi on Energy Efficiency in the IT Industry

February 16th, 2010

Sumir KarayiName: Sumir Karayi, Speaker, Executive Dialogue Session 4C: Consumers & End-Use
Sector: Energy-Efficient IT
Company: 1E
Position: CEO
Years with the company: since the beginning – I founded the company some 13 years ago.
Lives in London, UK, but I spend approximately two weeks of every month in New York!
First Job in the energy efficiency IT sector: I’ve always been passionate about the environment, especially when it comes to wasted energy and resources in IT – that’s my driving force and reason for setting up 1E and enabling the company to become not only one of the fastest-growing fastest growing and successful private technology companies but also the market leaders in PC power management.
Favorite energy efficiency home improvement: My ethos and the company’s ethos is to be energy-efficient and save money as a result. In our family home, energy efficiency is a lifestyle; you’ll find energy-efficient lighting and appliances, insulation, glazing and recycling bins for paper, plastic, metal and general food waste – of these, it’s hard to chose a favorite!
When not at the office, likes to ski, workout, or relax with a nice glass of wine.

Sumir Karayi of 1E – a software and services company that helps its customers reduce their IT costs and environmental footprints with its leading-edge automation solutions – talks about energy efficiency’s unique role in the IT industry, and the forward motion of investments and innovation in this space.

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Applying Available Technologies is First Step in Energy Efficiency

February 12th, 2010

Robert Wilkins

Robert Wilkins, President, Danfoss North America, Moderator, EE Global Executive Dialogue Session 3A: Buildings

Expectations for a comprehensive climate and energy bill are diminishing as we head into an election year, and with the Democrats no longer holding a 60% Senate majority. However, the importance of energy efficiency remains at the forefront in many sectors due to unstable and rising energy prices and energy security. We will tackle emerging energy – and efficiency – issues at the Energy Efficiency Global Forum & Exposition.

Policy development is one critical lever in our path toward efficiency. For example, with proper incentives or policy, in the HVAC industry, millions of old, inefficient air-conditioning and heating systems installed in our homes could be replaced with today’s higher efficient systems that reduce energy consumption by as much as 30%.

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Press Release: EE Global 2010 Comes to Washington, D.C.

February 10th, 2010

Washington, D.C., February 10, 2010 – World-class business, technology, government and policy leaders will convene May 10-12 at the Alliance to Save Energy’s EE Global 2010 Energy Efficiency Forum and Exposition – the only such international event focused exclusively on energy efficiency.  Registration for the conference at the Washington, D.C., Convention Center is now available at eeglobalforum.org/registration.html.

Already more than 50 energy experts from around the world are lined up to address four plenary sessions and four concurrent tracks of Executive Dialogue sessions. Each track concentrates on one of four key energy end-use sectors:  buildings, consumers, industry and utilities or transportation and urban planning.
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Putting Energy Efficiency to Work in Sweden

February 3rd, 2010

Lena Ek

Hon. Lena Ek, Member of European Parliament (Sweden), Speaker, Executive Dialogue Session 3A: Buildings

The possibilities for using energy efficiency to promote growth and good governance of our planet are close to limitless. An excellent example of how a municipality can promote new ways to use energy is the water heating production plant called the Gärstad Plant close to my hometown in Linköping, Sweden.

Each year, the plant processes and burns 390,000 tons of waste, which is delivered from industries and households in about 30 municipalities. The materials mainly used are renewable or recycled materials such as sorted waste, wood, waste plastic and rubber waste. The 1,000 GWh per year that is generated by the incineration is distributed through a district heating network. The network covers 90% of all apartments and 80% of all private houses in the city.

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Industry Leaders: Bob Dixon on Energy-Efficient Building Technologies

February 2nd, 2010

Bob Dixon

Name: Bob Dixon, Speaker, Executive Dialogue Session 5D: Transportation & Urban Planning
Sector: Energy Efficiency Building Technology (& the Latest Technology for New & Existing Buildings)
Company: Siemens Industry Inc.
Position: Senior VP & Global Head, Efficiency & Sustainability, Building Automation, Siemens Industry Inc.
Years worked at this company: 16
First job in this sector: over 35 years ago, as a sales engineer…within the energy efficiency field
Lives in: Gurnee, Ill.
Favorite energy efficiency home improvement: an updated the HVAC system,which has increased comfort & reduced energy consumption in our home by 21%
When not at the office, likes to: Since I travel over 200K miles per year, spending time with my family is my first priority.

In this podcast, Bob Dixon talks through the process of implementing energy efficiency in the building sector, while noting some of the exciting sustainability projects underway at Siemens Industry Inc., a three-time EE Global sponsor.

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Industry Leaders: Tom Catania on Energy-Efficient Consumer Products

February 1st, 2010

Tom Catania

Name: Tom Catania
Sector: Energy-Efficient Consumer Products
Company: Whirlpool Corporation
Position: Vice President Government Relations
Years with the company: 23
Lives in Benton Harbor, MI
Favorite energy efficiency home improvement: Clothes washer
When not at the office, likes to bicycle.

What impact will smart grid have on the way we use appliances? And, how can government policies support widespread use of energy-efficient products and give them a leg-up in the market? Tom Catania answers these questions and others in this Industry Leader Interview.

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