EE Global continued today with “Driving Energy Efficiency Through Technology Innovation: A Showcase of Best Practices in the Business Sector.” Speakers shared the latest energy efficiency news and developments in their industries and stressed the need for cooperation between businesses, governments and consumers to ensure energy efficiency measures are quickly put into place.
Balancing Efficiency with the Economy
As ranking member of the Senate’s Energy and Natural Resources Committee, Honorary Keynote Speaker Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) has advocated ways of strengthening the economy while mandating new efficiency standards. “We can continue to build on past progress to arrive at an even better final product,” she said. Her committee’s current focus is on the Homestar Energy Efficiency Retrofit Program bill that passed the House May 2010.
While she advocated “without a doubt, we must commercialize clean and renewable energy,” she also warned that it would take both time and money to implement, saying she was absolutely committed to making sure that our economy is not harmed in the process.”
Anyone Can Do It
Building codes and conservation, according to George David, former chairman & CEO, United Technologies Corporation, are two of the most effective means of initiating energy efficiency. “The point is straightforward, the point is powerful: anyone can do this.”
Andreas Schierenbeck, CEO, building automation, building technologies division, Siemens Industry Inc., expanded on the theme of “anyone can do it.” Energy savings are possible in every building and business, he said. Although green buildings initially can be up to 5 percent more expensive than traditional buildings, the extra money spent at the outset is quickly recouped — and then some. By employing energy efficiency measures via technologies such as heating and cooling systems, lighting and building automation, you can expect cost savings ranging from 20 to 40 percent. Additionally, buildings with LEED and Energy Star certification have 6 percent higher rental rates and 16 percent higher sell rates than their normal counterparts.
Act Together, The Time Is Now
Although, said Christopher Curtis, president and CEO, N.A., operating division & buildings business, Schneider Electric, “you can be overwhelmed,” the energy problems facing the global community are too large for a single government, company or person and so all these different sectors must band together — for energy efficiency, “the moment is now.”
Curtis spoke of the positive changes in attitude around the globe. “If we were in China two years ago, this room would be empty. If we were in China today, we wouldn’t have enough room.” While Curtis attributed that partially to a competitive element, both necessity and public opinion have become driving forces for change. “If you don’t do it for the planet, do it for your wallet,” he said. “It costs a little more [initially] but the payback doesn’t take that long.” How businesses choose to address energy efficiency is less important than how soon they do it. “We cannot act like we have all the time in the world.”
When David Szczupak, executive vice president, global product organizations, Whirlpool Corporation, took the stage, he started out by reminding the audience of what initially drove the auto industry to make changes in the amount of gasoline vehicles rqeuire — consumers demanded it during an energy crisis (sound familiar?). These days, he said, consumers are approaching a variety of product purchases in the same way. They are no longer looking only at function, but want their preferences, including environmental ones, met as well. Consumers expect more. Whirlpool is making strides with its energy efficient appliances, including a refrigerator that only uses as much energy as a 60W light bulb. However, consumers and business across all industries need to become more involved. “We need all parties, together with our legislators, to create the kind of incentives…that will drive this change as quickly as possible.”
Zia Eftekhar, chief executive officer, Philips Professional Luminaires N.A., wrapped up the plenary by discussing lighting’s role in global energy consumption, which accounts for more than 20 percent of energy usage. According to Eftekhar, about two thirds of all lighting in the world is based on old technology and 75 percent of lighting in commercial buildings is inefficient. “The good news,” he said, “is that the solution for energy…is here and it’s applicable to all segments of the market: homes, where we work and where we play.” He cited an example of a study done at an elementary school in Hamburg, Germany. When dynamic lighting mimicking natural daylight rhythms was substituted for the normal lighting, students were 75 percent calmer, made 45 percent fewer mistake and read 35 percent faster. With these sorts of positive results and the technology already in existence, as Eftekhar said, “What are we waiting for?”
Tags: EE Global 2010, energy efficiency, Murkowski, Philips, Schneider, Siemens, United Technologies, Whirlpool