Opening EE Global 2012 Plenary: Energy Efficiency, An 'All of the Above' Answer

The Alliance to Save Energy’s EE Global Forum began on March 27, 2012, and Alliance President Kateri Callahan brought the fifth installment of the event to order with a discussion on the core concept that governments and businesses alike are focused on their economic “bottom lines,” as well as better ways to build profits, create jobs and enhance sustainability.

“Whether the primary goal is increasing productivity, reducing costs, creating new jobs, enhancing security or tackling environmental problems associated with energy production – energy efficiency is the one and only “all of the above” resource that delivers on each and every one of these goals” said Callahan.

Energy Efficiency 'Leadership by Example' & the Government’s Deep Pockets

Speaking on behalf of the U.S. government, and its embassies around the world, was U.S. Ambassador to Finland Bruce Oreck. Ever intriguing in his remarks, Ambassador Oreck challenged the audience to stop talking about energy and the environment and similar terms that have lost their traction throughout the world due to ever-changing political, economic, and social issues. “Talk about prosperity, boldness and the future you wish to make” said Oreck, who explained that it all funnels down to doing business.

Financing Energy Efficiency: Access to Capital

Siemens Building Technologies CEO Andreas Schierenbeck described a business partnership that Siemens has entered with Boeing that will provide the technology needed for military bases to generate their own power, as well as potentially that of their surrounding communities and cities. Commenting on what is needed to push the “microgrid” to scale, Andreas added that “It's an available technology, but in order for the biggest impact to be made the government needs to push and provide support for performance contracting.”

Incentivizing Energy Efficiency Among Manufacturers & Consumers

“Regulatory incentives are necessary to shift the bar for increased efficiency products because consumers do not think in terms of long pay-back periods” explained Whirlpool Corporation Vice President of Engineering and Technology Christian Gianni. Furthermore, Bosch Thermotechnology North America President and CEO Ervin Cash, added that “new and newer technologies will need a runway to allow people to learn about them, and bridging the gaps between returns on investment and providing encouragement for consumers to make the move to efficiency is the government’s role -- and training and incentives are stepping stones to get there.”

Building Energy Codes & Standards

Gianni added that just as the ENERGY STAR suite of products have done for the last 20 years “To reduce energy without compromising performance there must be strong standards in place to level the playing field.” An important factor in governments and businesses making the biggest impact is “Allowing consumers to have more choice and using regulatory standards to create more solutions and options in the market,” added Philips North America Chairman Greg Sebasky.

“Through product innovation, technology, and support by policymakers and stakeholders alike we can fully tap the energy efficiency resource” said Callahan. Summarizing the opening plenary speakers she added that “Energy efficiency has proven itself to be a universal asset to achieving the bottom line for the collective whole, and while it has much iteration the constant remains that it is attainable by all, now, and through its innovative application, government and businesses can achieve greater productivity.”