Alliance Presents Multifaceted Approach to Energy Efficiency at NASEO Conference

By Julia Sendor

Washington, D.C., Feb. 3, 2011 — From Jan. 31 to Feb. 3, state energy officers from around the nation and representatives from associations, companies and federal programs convened in Washington D.C., for the 2011 State Energy Policy and Technology Outlook Conference, led by the National Association of State Energy Offices (NASEO). The Alliance presented on several developing initiatives, such as Watergy and the Zero Energy Commercial Buildings Consortium (CBC).

The Alliance also sponsored a booth showcasing its diverse programmatic offerings, which aimed to build awareness of energy efficiency with the many public officials and private-sector leaders involved in energy management who were in attendance.

Saving Energy with the Commercial Buildings Consortium, Watergy Programs

At the conference, NASEO Project Manager Diana Lin provided a status update on the CBC, a program jointly administered by NASEO and the Alliance. Lin discussed the upcoming publication of working group reports that will deliver industry perspectives and recommendations for the Department of Energy and other industry stakeholders to help chart a market path to net-zero-energy commercial buildings in the next two to three decades. Lin also highlighted near-term actions to significantly improve energy performance in existing commercial buildings. Two of these reports – “Next Generation Technologies” and “Analysis of Cost and Non-cost Barriers and Policy Solutions” – are expected to come out in February through zeroenergycbc.org.

Another noteworthy panel featured the U.S. application of Watergy, a program that helps cities realize significant energy, water and financial savings through technical and managerial changes in water supply systems. Speakers from the Alliance, Policy Navigation Group and Danfoss called for state energy offices to address the aging infrastructure and inefficiencies of their states’ water utilities by supporting energy management systems and smart capital investments using energy-efficient technology.