Industry Leaders Interview: Bob Dixon

Bob Dixon is the senior vice president and global head of Energy Services and Solutions at Siemens Building Technologies, Inc (SBT). SBT helps companies all over the world upgrade their buildings and building components to make them more comfortable, safe, secure, and energy-efficient. Dixon joined the Alliance Board in 2005 and also currently serves as the president of the National Association of Energy Service Companies (NAESCO).

e-FFICENCY NEWS: Could you begin our conversation today with a brief summary of the Energy Services Solutions business division of SBT – how long has it been in existence; what services and products are provided, where are your markets?

Bob Dixon: Siemens Building Technologies has been involved in energy efficiency for well over a hundred years. The early foundation of our business was controlling building systems that consumed energy and doing it efficiently. Specifically, the energy services and solutions business was founded that in a late 1994 and got underway a primarily in the North American markets in 1995.

Since that time we have implemented a well over 1.5 billion dollars of energy efficiency projects, primarily in the form of performance-based contracts. Our projects include a wide range of deliverables, based upon customer needs. In many cases we implement industry standard energy efficiency measures, for example updating outdated lighting systems using new technologies, improving the efficiency of boiler and chiller systems, and looking at building infrastructure of areas that can positively affect energy efficiency.

Over-time our business has evolved to include many innovative offerings, including consulting with our customers to help them buy energy in deregulated markets, implementing different on-site generation strategies using technologies such as a co-generation and waste- to-energy technologies. In addition to the supply side and demand side parts of our business, we have a robust offering in the area of energy and utility information management services. We currently offer all of our products and services throughout North America and in 14 countries to overseas.

e-FFICENCY NEWS: We understand that your position it relatively new and that you have been challenged by management to grow and expand your division. Can you share with our readers your vision for Siemens SBT and the Energy Services and Solutions division?

Bob Dixon: Though my position as a global head of the energy services and solutions business is new since October of this year, I have been leading the effort in the North American markets for the last seven years . Siemens is one of the world's largest energy infrastructure companies and our vision for our energy services and solutions business is to hold a similar global leadership position, that is to be one of the of world's largest providers of services and solutions in the areas of energy conservation, efficiency, and reliability.

e-FFICENCY NEWS: SBT is truly international. Can you talk about some projects in a few of the more exciting places SBT works (and do you often get to visit the sites)?

Bob Dixon: Siemens and Siemens Building Technologies is an international company, and we have offices around the world. Since I have taken on my new responsibilities I have been in China, Hungary, Germany, Austria, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, and I currently have trips planned to Sweden, Czech Republic, back to China, and Australia. Other places that I will be going to very shortly include Slovakia, Poland, and Thailand, and that is in just the next few months.

e-FFICENCY NEWS: Can you talk about the difficulties of working in developing countries or is there little difference working on a building in a less- or more-developed area? When you start a project in a less-developed area, do you have a different set of expectations and recommendations for buildings?

Bob Dixon: The fundamental problems clients face whether they are in a developing country or in a more developed country are not in that dissimilar. The particularly level of importance of the problems take on a significantly different level, depending where a project is being developed. Customers face many issues around the spiraling energy costs, aging infrastructure within their facilities, power reliability and quality, shortage of capital funds, and more and more every day concerns around indoor air quality and the quality of water. In the less developed areas, we certainly find that we are attending to needs around quality issues more than cost-efficient efficiency issues.

e-FFICENCY NEWS: In addition to your senior position at Siemens, you hold high positions in two energy groups; one could assume that energy management is very important to you not only professionally, but personally. What motivates your involvement and commitment to energy efficiency and how do you view your work outside SBT?

Bob Dixon: Thirty years ago this June, I received a degree in mechanical engineering from California Polytechnic State University, in San Luis Obispo California. Upon my arrival of my first day of my new job, I was handed a book that was entitled “Energy Conservation and Control” and I was told I should become an expert in this area. Over the years, I have had of a chance to lead a variety of different business initiatives, but it came back full circle back in 1997 when I was asked to lead the performance contracting business for a Siemens Building Technologies.

As I reentered the energy business, I have become more passionate over the opportunities to provide real value to our customers at the same time and probably more importantly provide very positive impact to on the environment. I am very optimistic about our industry. Our industry provides solutions that deal with some of the energy shortage issues, the spiraling costs that everyone faces, and challenges that the aging energy infrastructure poses. At the same time, while we are dealing with those very real business issues, we are positively affecting the environment which is certainly will serve future generations to come a very well.

Last year and this year I have the pleasure and honor of serving as the president of NAESCO, and this year I'm thrilled to have been asked and joining the board of directors at the alliance to save energy. Both of these organizations are leaders in their respective areas, and to be able to participate in both allows me the opportunity to learn from fellow industry leaders and colleagues.

e-FFICENCY NEWS: Can you talk about some of the ways Siemens is helping the victims of the tsunami?

Bob Dixon: To date, more than $500,000 has been donated to the Tsunami relief fund by Siemens employees around the world. With the company match, Siemens will be contributing more than $1 million among the following organizations: Save the Children, CARE and the American Red Cross. In addition, USFilter (a Siemens company) and Siemens' Thailand office are working together to provide drinking water treatment units to tsunami survivors. More about Siemen's efforts in Southeast Asia.